Pakistan Electricity Tariff Slab Rates 2026

Definition. Pakistan's residential electricity tariff is structured as a slab (block) rate system: consumption is divided into bands, and each band carries its own per-unit price. Protected consumers (≤200 units/month for 6 consecutive months) pay lower slab rates; unprotected consumers pay higher rates that escalate at 100-unit thresholds up to 700+ units.

How Pakistan's electricity slab rate system works, what protected and unprotected slabs mean for your bill, when slabs reset, and where to find the current NEPRA-approved rates.

How Electricity Slabs Work in Pakistan

A slab rate tariff charges different prices for different bands of consumption within a single billing month. The first 100 units fall into slab 1, the next 100 into slab 2, and so on. Each slab has its own per-unit price, and the higher slabs cost more. This structure is designed to keep basic electricity affordable for low consumers while full-cost recovery from higher users.

The critical difference from a simple progressive tax: in many NEPRA tariff determinations, crossing into a new slab can cause the entire bill to be recalculated at the higher slab's rate — not just the units above the threshold. Always check the specific determination for your tariff category to understand whether Pakistan currently uses a 'top-slab-applies-to-all' or 'marginal rate per band' approach, as NEPRA has used both over time.

Because NEPRA sets and revises tariffs quarterly through formal determinations, the exact PKR figures change regularly. This page explains the structure; the current per-unit PKR amounts are always at nepra.org.pk under 'Determination' → latest residential tariff order.

Protected Consumer Slab Structure

Protected consumers — those who have stayed at or under 200 units every month for the past 6 consecutive months — are entitled to subsidized rates. NEPRA maintains a separate, lower slab schedule for this category.

The protected schedule typically has 2–3 bands covering 0–50 units (lifeline rate, often close to cost-free), 51–100 units, and 101–200 units. The rates in all three bands are substantially below what unprotected consumers pay.

Lifeline consumers (under 50 units for 6 months) receive an additional subsidy and are often exempt from FPA and GST entirely. Registration is through the Cross Subsidy Scheme (CSS) at css.pitc.com.pk.

If you qualify as protected but your bill shows you as unprotected, take your last 6 months of bills to your DISCO's Subdivision Office (SDO) and request a status correction. This is a common error that the SDO can fix.

Unprotected Consumer Slab Structure

Once a consumer uses more than 200 units in any single month, they are reclassified as unprotected for the following 6 months — even if subsequent months are under 200 units. The unprotected schedule applies until 6 consecutive months under 200 units restore protected status.

The unprotected residential schedule (typically A-1(02) or higher tariff code) runs from the first unit at a base rate, then escalates at the 100-unit, 200-unit, 300-unit, 400-unit, 500-unit, 600-unit, and 700-unit thresholds. Each band pays progressively more per unit.

Three-phase domestic connections (A-2) carry the same slab logic but may have different base rates and higher fixed charges. Commercial connections (B tariff) follow a separate schedule entirely.

Surcharges That Sit on Top of Slabs

The slab rate is not your total per-unit cost — it is the energy charge. Several per-unit surcharges are added to it.

FPA (Fuel Price Adjustment): set monthly by NEPRA, reconciles actual generation fuel costs against the tariff baseline. Can be positive (surcharge) or negative (credit). Published monthly at nepra.org.pk.

TRS (Tariff Rationalization Surcharge): a government-determined per-unit levy collected by DISCOs.

FC Surcharge (Financing Cost): covers debt servicing costs in the electricity sector.

Electricity Duty: a provincial tax, typically a small percentage of the sub-total.

GST at 17% (or applicable reduced rate for lower protected consumers): applied to the combined total of energy charges plus surcharges.

LPS (Late Payment Surcharge): applied only if the bill is paid after the due date, calculated as a percentage of the overdue principal.

Why the Slab Jump Effect Is Significant

The slab jump is the most commonly misunderstood aspect of Pakistani electricity billing. Because some NEPRA determinations apply the highest reached slab's rate to all units (not just those above the threshold), consuming 201 units can cost significantly more than consuming 199 — even though the difference is only 2 units.

For a household consistently at 180–220 units, this makes the final days of a billing cycle important. If you read your own meter and see you're at 195 units with 5 days remaining, and you're averaging 8 units/day, you'll hit approximately 235 units — a slab jump. Reducing AC use for 3 days can avoid it.

The only reliable way to know exactly where the jump is for your specific tariff code and current NEPRA rates is to read the current tariff determination and apply it to your consumption. The Electricity Bill tariff calculator uses the current published rate structure to show you this automatically.

Where to Find Current NEPRA Slab Rates

NEPRA publishes all tariff determinations and quarterly revisions on nepra.org.pk under the 'Determinations' or 'Tariff' section. The document to look for is the most recent 'Determination in the matter of monthly fuel charges adjustment' and the 'Multi Year Tariff (MYT) Determination' for distribution companies.

Your DISCO's official website also publishes the current tariff schedule in a simplified table format. MEPCO, LESCO, FESCO, IESCO, and GEPCO all maintain public tariff pages.

The Electricity Bill tariff page at electricitybill.pk/tariff summarizes the current structure for domestic consumers and links to the source NEPRA documentation. The tariff calculator on the homepage uses these rates to estimate your bill based on units entered.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current electricity unit price in Pakistan?

The per-unit price in Pakistan depends on your tariff category (protected or unprotected), consumption slab, and the month's FPA. NEPRA publishes exact rates quarterly. For current figures, check nepra.org.pk or your DISCO's tariff page. Unprotected consumers typically pay an effective all-inclusive rate (including FPA, TRS, and GST) of Rs. 25–45 per unit depending on consumption level.

Why did my electricity bill double even though I used only slightly more units?

This is the slab jump effect. Pakistan's tariff system can apply the highest reached slab's rate across the entire bill when you cross a threshold. Crossing from 199 to 201 units can push you into a more expensive slab that recalculates all 201 units at a higher rate — not just the 2 units above the boundary.

How long do I need to stay under 200 units to become a protected consumer?

Six consecutive months at or under 200 units per month restores protected status. There is no application required — your DISCO's system reclassifies you automatically when 6 months of data qualify. If it doesn't happen automatically, visit your SDO with 6 months of bills.

Does the slab rate change in summer?

The slab structure itself does not change seasonally — the same bands apply year-round. However, FPA (Fuel Price Adjustment) changes monthly and can make the effective per-unit cost noticeably higher or lower. Summer bills also typically spike because consumption increases (AC load), pushing consumers into higher slabs, not because the rates themselves change.

Where can I see my tariff code?

Your tariff code is printed on your electricity bill near your name and address. Common residential codes are A-1 (single-phase, up to 5 kW sanctioned load), A-1a (single-phase, up to 10 kW), and A-2 (three-phase). A suffix like (01)-Protected or (02)-Unprotected indicates your current status.