Electricity consumers throughout Pakistan are experiencing a substantial rise in their monthly bills after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) revised its tariff structure. Starting January 2026, fixed charges will be calculated based on sanctioned load rather than electricity consumption, marking a significant shift in billing methodology.
This change follows a request from the federal government and replaces the previous system where fixed charges applied only to consumers using more than 300 units per month. Under the former arrangement, these charges ranged from Rs200 to Rs1,000 and were tied directly to consumption levels.
Notably, the new tariff applies fixed charges to all domestic consumers except lifeline users, regardless of their actual electricity usage. These charges are now determined on a per-kilowatt basis of the sanctioned load. NEPRA has set fixed charges between Rs200 and Rs675 per kilowatt per month, applicable to both protected and non-protected consumers across various domestic slabs.
As a result, consumers with higher sanctioned loads will see a marked increase in their bills. For instance, a household with a 5kW load could face fixed charges rising from Rs1,000 to as much as Rs3,375 monthly. Experts highlight that this adjustment means even those with low electricity consumption will encounter higher bills, as a greater portion of their charges is now linked to load instead of usage.
