ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers across Pakistan are set to face higher bills after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) approved additional charges of around Rs46 billion.
Nepra has allowed a Rs2.0581 per unit increase under the Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) for electricity consumed in July 2026. The adjustment will be reflected in consumers’ September bills.
In addition, the regulator approved a quarterly adjustment of Rs0.5194 per unit, which will be recovered uniformly from eligible consumers over three months — September, October and November.
As a result, consumers could face an additional burden of roughly Rs2.58 per unit in September, while the quarterly adjustment of around 52 paisa per unit will continue during the following two months.
The July fuel adjustment alone is expected to place a burden of around Rs33 billion on consumers. Higher electricity generation costs, including expensive LNG purchases from the international spot market, were among the factors contributing to the increase.
Another Rs12.67 billion will be recovered through the quarterly tariff adjustment approved by Nepra.
The regulator said the positive FCA of Rs2.0581 per kWh would apply to consumers of K-Electric and distribution companies across most categories, although certain consumers have been excluded.
Lifeline consumers, electric vehicle charging stations and prepaid consumers who have opted for prepaid tariffs will not be charged the higher FCA. Certain incremental consumption package units will also remain exempt under the applicable tariff rules.
Distribution companies and K-Electric have been directed to incorporate the July fuel adjustment into electricity bills issued in September 2026.
Meanwhile, the quarterly adjustment of Rs0.5194 per kWh covers changes in several components of power-sector costs, including capacity charges, variable operation and maintenance expenses, use-of-system charges and market operator fees.
It also accounts for the impact of fuel cost adjustments on transmission and distribution losses, along with other adjustments linked to incremental electricity consumption.
Nepra reviews fuel costs every month under the existing tariff mechanism, with changes in electricity generation costs generally passed on to consumers through monthly fuel adjustments. Quarterly adjustments cover changes in power purchase costs, capacity payments and other operational expenses.
The latest decision means electricity consumers will face another increase in their monthly bills at a time when households and businesses are already dealing with high energy costs.
