Islamabad: Power generation in Pakistan increased by 5% year-over-year in March, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The latest figures show that the country produced 8,409 gigawatt-hours (GWh) during the month, a notable rise attributed to the end of the winter season.

However, the cumulative power generation for the first nine months of the fiscal year posted a decline of 2% compared to the same period last year, totaling approximately 90,148 GWh.

The average cost of power generation for March was reported at Rs9.2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), marking a 2% decrease from the previous year. Despite this year-over-year drop, the month-on-month comparison showed a 12% increase in costs.

This rise in costs is primarily due to a reduction in the share of hydel power, which fell to 15% of the energy mix. This is a significant decrease from the average 30% hydel contribution over the past year, leading to a greater reliance on more expensive energy sources such as coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG).