Nepra targets high-rises with new power charges

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has proposed new grid-sharing charges for high-rise buildings and industrial consumers as part of proposed amendments to its Consumer Service Manual.

Under the proposed changes, owners of buildings requiring dedicated transformers with a capacity of more than 500 kVA would be responsible for paying grid-sharing charges.

The electricity regulator has invited public comments on the proposed amendments. The changes are aimed at revising several rules governing electricity connections, charges and consumer services.

Under the existing regulations, buildings up to ground plus three floors are excluded from the category of multi-storey or high-rise buildings. As a result, such buildings are currently not required to pay grid-sharing charges.

The proposed amendments would change this arrangement. Any building requiring a dedicated transformer with a capacity exceeding 500 kVA would fall under the grid-sharing charges mechanism, regardless of its number of floors.

Nepra has also proposed allowing industrial consumers to obtain multiple electricity connections with a combined load of up to 15 megawatts.

The proposed amendments also include revisions to charges applicable to industrial consumers and steel furnace consumers. The regulator has suggested changes to the rules governing these categories in line with their electricity requirements.

Nepra has further proposed stricter rules for temporary disconnection of electricity connections. The amendments are intended to strengthen the regulatory framework governing electricity supply and consumer connections.

Another proposed change concerns electricity theft cases. The period for issuing detection bills in such cases could potentially be extended to 12 months under the proposed amendments.

The regulator has also proposed changes relating to electric vehicle charging stations. Nepra has suggested removing the existing limit on the charging margin for EV charging stations, with pricing to be determined by market forces.