The federal government has announced scheduled load shedding during peak hours and warned that electricity tariffs may increase in the coming period.
In a statement, the Power Division said electricity supply will remain suspended for around two and a half hours daily between 5:00 PM and 1:00 AM.
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The move comes amid a global energy crisis triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz following recent US-Israel strikes, prompting governments to adopt energy conservation measures.
The Power Division said the decision aims to reduce reliance on expensive fuel and limit a potential rise in electricity prices.
Officials said peak hours currently pose the biggest challenge due to a surge in demand and reduced hydel power generation. Meeting this demand through costly fuel sources could significantly increase tariffs.
The statement said the government has provided 80 MMCFD of local gas to power plants to contain price increases and manage additional load.
According to the Power Division, the peak-hour power suspension is intended to prevent an increase of around Rs. 3 per unit in electricity tariffs. However, it added that a rise of about Rs. 1.5 per unit may still occur.
The division said power distribution companies have been directed to share load management schedules with consumers and avoid unannounced outages.
Officials described the measure as part of a “peak relief strategy” aimed at managing demand and stabilizing electricity prices.
