ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is seeking higher charges for grid sharing, dedicated transformers, feeders and grid stations, as well as temporary disconnections and reconnections for high-rise buildings and industrial consumers, as part of proposed changes to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM).

Under the proposed amendments to power companies’ CSM, Nepra would also suggest removing the requirement for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) as the government has already liberalised EVCS margins, allowing market players to determine their sale margins.

The regulator has asked interested stakeholders to submit their written comments on the proposed changes within 30 days, ending Oct 25.

Nepra has proposed five major changes to the CSM.

Seeks changes to CSM for high-rise buildings, industrial consumers and temporary connections

First, for multi-storey buildings, including those comprising residential units, the proposed CSM envisages that any building requiring a dedicated transformer of more than 500kVA capacity shall be liable to pay grid-sharing charges. At present, a building of ground plus three storeys is not considered a high-rise and as such, no grid-sharing charges are applicable.

Next, the distribution companies (Discos) would be allowed to provide multiple industrial, commercial or bulk supply connections to new consumers or extend load for existing industrial consumers, up to three feeders, with a maximum consolidated threshold of 15MW at the same premises and under the same tariff category, subject to technical feasibility and availability of capacity at the existing grid station.

Consumers would pay 100 per cent of grid-sharing charges, including transmission charges. This means a consumer would pay Rs8.948 million per MW and 100pc of the cost of land, or Rs0.855m per MW, proportionate to the load. These charges would apply to load exceeding 5MW.

For load above 15MW, a dedicated grid station and associated transmission line would be required. If a consumer applies for a load extension above 15MW and is subsequently provided a connection from a dedicated grid station, the charges already paid by the consumer, including grid-sharing charges, transmission-line charges and the cost of land, would be refunded.

At present, a dedicated transformer and 11kV distribution feeder of up to 5MW are allowed. Under the proposed third change, a dedicated transformer, 11kV feeder and rehabilitation charges would apply to connections of up to 1MW.

Similar arrangements would apply to loads above 1MW and up to 2.5MW on the basis of actual rehabilitation charges. The Discos would be required to ensure that 11kV feeders are not compromised, while the cost of meeting technical parameters would be borne by the consumer.

Temporary disconnections

The fourth amendment proposes that before expiry of the period allowed for temporary disconnection, the consumer shall approach the Disco for reconnection.

However, if the consumer does not apply for reconnection, the connection shall be deemed to have been reconnected and charges shall apply upon expiry of the temporary disconnection period.

There shall be no restriction on obtaining multiple temporary disconnections, but for a subsequent temporary disconnection, the consumer would be required to pay fixed charges and other applicable charges for at least one month before applying for the next temporary disconnection.

Under the fifth amendment, Discos are proposed to charge detection bills for a maximum period of 12 months for all registered consumers in cases involving the use of bogus meters, load-profile freezing, manipulation of billing meters through software, reversal of meter readings through Bluetooth devices and security breaches of billing meters.

In such cases, the detection bill would be charged on the basis of load rather than future or previous consumption. However, for domestic consumers, the period covered by the detection bill would be confined to six months.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2026