The ‘non-protected’ residential customers of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) will be subject to additional fixed charges of Rs. 460 per month. The new rule will be put into effect retroactively on January 1, 2023.

Both gas companies will apply the updated rates to April bills, which will account for gas used in March, according to an Express Tribune report. This modification is a part of the government’s strategy to raise Rs. 310 billion from consumers between January and June 2023.

The two businesses will collect past dues for January and February as a result of the revised tariff taking effect at the beginning of this year, and they will note the difference on bills for March, April, and May. The bills will indicate this additional amount as a “adjustment” and a “previous balance.”

Only non-protected clients who consumed more than 90 cubic metres of petrol (on average) during the winter of 2022–2023 will be subject to this additional fee. Protected consumers will only pay an additional set fee of Rs. 10 per month for their usage of up to 90 cubic metres during the winter.

According to the notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in mid-February 2023, the fixed rates will be collected by both gas utilities.