How to Calculate Your Electricity Bill in Pakistan
A Pakistani electricity bill is not one flat rate per unit. NEPRA sets slab rates, and the rate depends on how many units you used and whether you are a protected, unprotected or lifeline consumer. Follow the five steps below and you can work out the energy charge on any bill by hand — then check it with the free calculator on the home page.
How to calculate your electricity bill — step by step
Find your units from the meter or bill
Your units (kWh) are the difference between this month's meter reading and last month's reading. Your paper bill also shows them as the units consumed. For example, if last month's reading was 12,400 and this month's is 12,700, you used 300 units.
Find out if you are protected, unprotected or lifeline
You are protected if you used 200 units or fewer in each of the last six months — you pay Rs 10.54 for the first 100 units and Rs 13.01 for units 101-200. You are unprotected if you crossed 200 units in any of the last six months, or have an air conditioner on the connection — you pay the higher rates, and every unit is charged at the rate of the slab your total falls in. Lifeline rates (Rs 3.95 up to 50 units, Rs 7.74 for 51-100) are for the smallest users, up to 100 units a month.
Work out the energy charge from the slabs
Protected, 200 units: 100 x Rs 10.54 = Rs 1,054, plus 100 x Rs 13.01 = Rs 1,301, so the energy charge is Rs 2,355. Unprotected, 300 units: every unit at Rs 33.10, so 300 x Rs 33.10 = Rs 9,930. Unprotected, 500 units: 500 x Rs 38.95 = Rs 19,475. Notice the unprotected rule: the cheaper slabs below do not apply — the whole month is charged at the top slab's rate.
Add the fixed charge, adjustments and surcharges
Your bill adds a fixed charge set per kW of sanctioned load (from February 2026: about Rs 200 per kW for protected up to 100 units, rising to Rs 675 per kW above 500 units for unprotected consumers), plus the monthly fuel charges adjustment, the quarterly adjustment in force and a financing cost surcharge. These change every month, so no calculator can give them exactly in advance — this site lists them as an estimate and says so.
Add the taxes — GST at 18%
General sales tax of 18% applies to the energy charge, fixed charge, adjustments and surcharge. As a rough guide, 18% of the energy charge alone is a useful estimate of the tax part, but your real bill's tax is calculated on the full subtotal. That is why this site always calls the total an estimate and tells you to check your actual bill.
Check the total and watch the 200-unit line
The most expensive mistake is crossing 200 units: one unit over the line can move you from Rs 13.01 to Rs 22.44 on the very first unit and cost you protected status for six months. The same cliff exists at 300 units, where the rate jumps from Rs 33.10 to Rs 36.46 on every unit. If your units are near 200 or 300, check the calculator before the month ends.
NEPRA domestic slab rates — S.R.O. 279(I)/2026, effective 12 February 2026
| Slab | Rate per unit | How it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline 1–50 units | Rs 3.95 per unit | Smallest users, no fixed charge |
| Lifeline 51–100 units | Rs 7.74 per unit | Smallest users, no fixed charge |
| Protected 1–100 units | Rs 10.54 per unit | First 100 units, progressive |
| Protected 101–200 units | Rs 13.01 per unit | Only the units above 100 |
| Unprotected 1–100 units | Rs 22.44 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 101–200 units | Rs 28.91 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 201–300 units | Rs 33.10 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 301–400 units | Rs 36.46 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 401–500 units | Rs 38.95 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 501–600 units | Rs 40.22 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected 601–700 units | Rs 41.85 per unit | All units at this rate |
| Unprotected above 700 units | Rs 47.20 per unit | All units at this rate |
Worked examples from this table: protected 200 units = 100 × Rs 10.54 + 100 × Rs 13.01 = Rs 2,355. Unprotected 300 units = 300 × Rs 33.10 = Rs 9,930. Unprotected 500 units = 500 × Rs 38.95 = Rs 19,475. Unprotected 700 units = 700 × Rs 41.85 = Rs 29,295. Lifeline 100 units = 50 × Rs 3.95 + 50 × Rs 7.74 = Rs 584.50. All are energy charges only — before fixed charges, adjustments and taxes.
Five tips for lower bills
- Stay under 200 units if you can: Protected status is worth a lot: 200 units cost about Rs 2,355 in energy charges protected, but a single unit over 200 moves the whole month to unprotected rates. A fan instead of an air conditioner for a few hours a day can be the difference.
- Read your meter on the same day each month: Units are the difference between two readings. Reading on the same date keeps months comparable and stops a long month from pushing you over a slab line by accident.
- Check the slab your total falls in, not the first slab: For unprotected consumers the rate of the highest slab applies to every unit. Do not multiply the first 100 units by Rs 22.44 and the rest by a higher rate — that is the protected rule, and it does not apply to you.
- Compare the energy charge first: Before arguing about taxes, check the energy charge line on your bill against the slab table. If that line is wrong, the whole bill is wrong — and it is the easiest line to verify by hand.
- Keep six months under 200 to win protection back: Protection returns only after six consecutive months at 200 units or fewer. Mark the calendar: one month over 200 restarts the count.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my electricity bill in Pakistan?
Find your units, check whether you are protected or unprotected, multiply by the NEPRA slab rate, then add the fixed charge, fuel and quarterly adjustments, surcharge and 18% GST. Protected 200 units: 100 x Rs 10.54 + 100 x Rs 13.01 = Rs 2,355 energy charge. Unprotected 300 units: 300 x Rs 33.10 = Rs 9,930 energy charge.
What is the current electricity unit price in Pakistan?
Under NEPRA S.R.O. 279(I)/2026, effective 12 February 2026, domestic rates run from Rs 3.95 per unit (lifeline, up to 50 units) to Rs 47.20 per unit (unprotected, above 700 units). Protected consumers pay Rs 10.54 and Rs 13.01; unprotected consumers pay Rs 22.44 to Rs 47.20 depending on total units.
What is a protected consumer in Pakistan?
A domestic consumer who used 200 units or fewer in each of the last six months. Protected consumers pay Rs 10.54 for the first 100 units and Rs 13.01 for units 101-200. Crossing 200 units in any month removes protection for the next six months.
Why did my bill jump so much after 200 units?
Because protection is lost and the unprotected rate applies to every unit, not just the extra ones. At 200 protected units the energy charge is Rs 2,355; at 201 unprotected units it is 201 x Rs 28.91 = Rs 5,811 — more than double for one extra unit.
Does the same tariff apply to LESCO, IESCO and other DISCOs?
Yes. NEPRA sets one uniform base tariff for all ex-WAPDA distribution companies — LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, FESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO and HAZECO. K-Electric in Karachi follows the same uniform tariff but has its own adjustment decisions, so its bills can differ slightly. Fixed charges and the timing of adjustments can also vary by company.