Consumers now face the highest-ever electricity tariffs. Those experiencing financial hardship and seeking instalment plans to manage their bills must pay a 14% markup on delayed payments. Additionally, they will lose eligibility for future instalment options for one year if payments are delayed.
A 10% late payment surcharge applies if a bill isn’t settled by the deadline specified on the bill.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) introduced these changes in the Consumer Service Manual following requests from the Power Division and its distribution companies, including K-Electric.
Nepra declined other harsh measures, such as high fees for priority new connections and strict penalties for multiple connections at a single property or for suspicious power usage.
Nepra’s notification states that no markup or late payment surcharge is required if the first instalment is paid on time upon request. However, remaining payments will incur the 14% annual markup, calculated pro-rata, and instalment plans are limited to once per fiscal year.
Consumers must request extensions before the due date. Distribution companies and K-Electric will issue computerized bills that include these options.
A Nepra official confirmed the 14% markup was already applied by distribution companies independently before formal regulation. The official also noted that the regulator rejected the companies’ requests for urgent connection fees, which would have significantly increased costs for consumers seeking faster service.
The demands for confiscating consumer appliances and imposing heavy penalties for electricity theft, including bills calculated for five years of usage, were also rejected. Distribution companies had further sought to eliminate multiple connections at residential properties without direct road access.
