Pakistan electricity users to be slapped with added charge of up to PKR 675

The Pakistan government has decided to revise electricity tariffs by introducing fixed charges for domestic consumers.

The government has submitted the request to the electricity regulator, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, or NEPRA, which will approve the charge after examining the application.

The regulator will hold a public hearing on the government proposal on February 10.

The Power Division has proposed fixed monthly charges for both protected and non-protected households. Until now, fixed charges have applied only to consumers who use more than 300 units of electricity per month.

In Pakistan, electricity consumers are classified as "protected" if they consume 200 units or less each month for six consecutive months. They receive subsidized electricity at a rate far lower than “non-protected" consumers.

Under the new proposal, protected consumers using up to 100 units per month would pay a fixed charge of PKR 200, while those consuming up to 200 units would pay PKR 300.

For non-protected consumers, fixed charges would range from PKR 275 for households using up to 100 units to PKR 675 for those consuming more than 600 units per month.

Consumers using more than 700 units would also be charged PKR 675, reflecting a proposed reduction compared with existing rates.

The government has also proposed lowering per-unit electricity rates for domestic consumers using more than 300 units per month.

The proposed reductions range from PKR 1.53 per unit for households consuming 400 units to PKR 0.49 per unit for those using more than 700 units.

Commercial consumers with a sanctioned load of 5 kilowatts or more may receive a reduction of PKR 1.15 per unit, while the industrial sector could see electricity prices cut by up to PKR 5 per unit, according to the proposal.

Separately, NEPRA has notified an increase of PKR 0.28 per unit in electricity prices under the fuel price adjustment mechanism for December.

The increase will be collected through February electricity bills and will apply to consumers nationwide, including those served by K-Electric, the company providing electricity to users in Karachi.

Lifeline consumers and electric vehicle charging stations have been exempted from the fuel price adjustment, the notification said.

The proposals are part of broader government efforts to rebalance electricity tariffs while addressing rising power-sector costs.