Electricity consumers faced a considerable burden between January 2023 and January 2024 with additional charges imposed by electricity distribution companies.

Documents obtained by SAMA TV revealed that consumers were charged an extra Rs 15 per unit in the form of head charges and capacity payments during this period.

Despite severe electricity shortages, consumers bore the brunt as electricity distribution companies collected billions of rupees. The breakdown showed that capacity payments and surcharges amounted to a staggering Rs 272.67 billion during this timeframe. Overall, consumers ended up paying a total of Rs 2046 billion in capacity payments, resulting in an additional cost of 15 rupees per unit.

Breakdown per quarter revealed additional charges, such as Rs 1.25 per unit from January to March, totaling an extra Rs 46 billion. Subsequently, April to June saw an additional burden of Rs 146.65 billion, equating to Rs 3.28 per unit. From July to September, consumers faced an extra Rs 1.45 paise per unit, amounting to Rs 42 billion.

Further financial strains continued as an additional Rs 15 billion was charged from October to December, and an additional burden of over Rs 22 billion incurred from January to March, representing an extra cost of Rs 1.15 per unit.

The accumulative financial load extended to Rs 335 billion for revolving debt settlement and power holding interest from June to June, adding an extra Rs 3.82 per unit. Additionally, a fuel aid adjustment was implemented on the basic tariff, further impacting consumers' electricity bills.