Find your tariff category on the bill
Every connection is assigned a tariff category that determines how it is billed. For domestic consumers the most important distinction is between protected and unprotected status. A protected consumer is one whose usage has stayed within a set limit, commonly 200 units a month, over a qualifying period set by the government, usually the previous six months; protected consumers pay lower rates. Unprotected consumers pay the full rates for their consumption band. Your category is printed on the bill — check it before assuming any rate applies to your connection.
How consumption bands work
Domestic tariffs are set in bands of monthly units — 1 to 100, 101 to 200, 201 to 300 and so on — and each band carries a higher rate than the one below it. How the bands combine for your connection depends on your category and on the rules in the tariff notification in force, and both the rates and those rules are revised during the year. For that reason this guide does not reproduce a rate table that would go out of date. Your bill already shows the result: the units billed and the cost of electricity for them.
Advertisement
Fuel price adjustment (FPA)
The fuel price adjustment (FPA) is a separate line on your bill that accounts for changes in the actual cost of fuel used to generate electricity compared to what was assumed when the base tariff was set. It can be positive (adding to your bill) or negative (reducing it). FPA is applied as a flat amount per unit across all units billed. NEPRA determines it month by month, and it is usually applied to a bill a couple of months after the fuel costs it relates to. To verify the FPA on a given bill, look up the NEPRA decision for the reference month shown with it.
Fixed charges, taxes and fees
Alongside energy charges, your bill includes several fixed and percentage-based items. The table below lists the most commonly seen ones. The actual amounts on your bill depend on your connection category, tariff and billing month.
| Charge | Description | How calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed charge / meter rent | A monthly fixed amount per connection, regardless of units used | Flat amount per billing period |
| GST (General Sales Tax) | Federal sales tax on the energy and certain other charges | Percentage of taxable amount |
| TV licence fee | Statutory fee collected on behalf of the government | Flat amount per connection |
| Income tax (withholding) | Applied to commercial and some high-use connections | Percentage; exemptions apply |
| Electricity duty | Provincial tax on electricity consumption | Percentage of the base charge |
Common questions
What is FPA on an electricity bill in Pakistan?
FPA stands for Fuel Price Adjustment. It is a separate per-unit charge (or credit) on your bill that reflects the difference between the fuel cost assumed when your base tariff was set and the actual fuel cost of generating electricity in an earlier month. It can increase or decrease your bill, and NEPRA determines it month by month.
What is the difference between protected and unprotected consumers?
A protected consumer is one whose consumption has stayed within a set limit, commonly 200 units a month, over a qualifying period, usually the previous six months. Protected consumers pay lower rates. Unprotected consumers pay the full rates for their consumption band. Your category is printed on your bill, and going over the limit can move a connection out of the protected category.
Why is there a TV licence fee on my electricity bill?
Pakistan's government collects a statutory television licence fee through electricity bills for administrative convenience. The fee is charged per connection regardless of whether you own a television. It is a government levy rather than a charge from the electricity company.
How do electricity slabs work — do I pay the top rate on all my units?
It depends on your category and on the tariff notification in force. Rates rise band by band, and the rules for how the bands combine differ between protected and unprotected consumers and have changed over time. The reliable check is your own bill: divide the cost of electricity by the units billed to see the average rate you paid, and compare it from month to month.
My bill increased but my usage was the same — why?
A bill can increase without any change in consumption when a tariff revision takes effect, when an FPA or quarterly adjustment is applied, or when arrears from a previous month are included. Check each line on your bill separately rather than comparing totals. An adjustment in the FPA or a quarterly correction is the most common cause of an unexpected increase.
Something inaccurate? Report a correction. Do not include private bill details.
Advertisement