CHECK YOUR BILL
Quick answer — how your bill is calculated
Start with units consumed (current meter reading minus previous reading). Match those units to your NEPRA tariff slab — protected rate if you use 200 units or fewer, unprotected rate above that. Multiply units by the slab rate for energy charges. Then add: fixed charges, FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment), NJ surcharge, FC surcharge, electricity duty (1.5%), GST (17%), and the PTV TV license fee of Rs. 35. The result is your total payable amount. Miss the due date and 10% gets added on top.
Pakistani electricity bills carry 8 to 14 separate line items. Most people look at the final number and move on. That works fine until the bill jumps Rs. 2,000 in a month where you used the same units as last month. This guide walks through every component — in the exact order your DISCO applies them — so you can check your own bill line by line.
The calculation that is shown below applies to all 11 WAPDA DISCOs: MEPCO, LESCO, FESCO, IESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO and HAZECO. The base tariff used here is from NEPRA's tariff determination of January 2, 2026, which governs bills through the remainder of fiscal year 2025-26. Always verify current rates at nepra.org.pk if you need an official figure. These tariffs are revised mid-year after the NEPRA notification.
Step 1: How to calculate units consumed?
Your meter measures electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One unit equals one kWh.
The units consumed for this billing cycle:
📊 Formula
Units consumed= Current meter reading − Previous meter reading
Both readings are printed on your bill. The meter reader visits your property each billing cycle — typically monthly — and records the current reading. Your bill shows what was recorded, not what your meter actually says today.
⚠ Check this first when your bill looks wrong. If your bill jumps unexpectedly, photograph your actual meter and compare the reading on the meter with what's printed on the bill. A wrong meter reading is the most common cause of billing disputes across all 11 DISCOs. You can check your official bill in seconds at echeckbills.pk — enter your reference number and the full bill loads with both readings visible.
Step 2: Find your NEPRA tariff slab
NEPRA sets electricity rates in a slab system. The rate you pay per unit depends on how many total units you consumed that month.
There are two entirely separate rate structures: protected and unprotected. Which one applies to you changes everything.
Consumer type | Who qualifies | Rate structure |
|---|---|---|
Protected (A-1P) | Consumers using 200 units or fewer per month, no air conditioner on the meter, sanctioned load under 5kW | Heavily subsidised rates — significantly lower per-unit cost |
Unprotected (A-1) | Everyone else — anyone with an AC registered, consumption above 200 units, or load above 5kW | Full commercial rate — progressive slab system, applies to all units consumed. |
The exact per-unit rates for both categories are published on the NEPRA website and reviewed periodically through formal tariff determinations. Always use the rate on your actual bill or the current NEPRA schedule — this guide uses approximate 2026 figures for illustration purposes only.
Protected vs unprotected — the most expensive misunderstanding in Pakistan's electricity billing
This is where most Pakistani consumers lose money without realising it.
The critical rule: if your consumption exceeds 200 units in any single month, the higher unprotected rate applies to all your units — not just the ones above 200.
So a consumer who used 196 units last month at a protected rate of, say, Rs. 14/unit pays Rs. 2,744 in base energy charges. The same consumer who used 205 units pays at the higher unprotected rate — on all 205 units — which could be Rs. 25/unit or more. The extra 9 units cost hundreds of rupees more than they should in isolation.
Critical rule
Crossing 200 units locks you out for 6 months.
The 6-month rule: Per NEPRA regulations, if a consumer's average consumption exceeds 200 units per month over any 6-month rolling period, or if they exceed 200 units in a single month, they are classified as unprotected for the following 6 months — regardless of what they consume in those months. This rule means one hot summer month can cost you a higher rate through the entire winter.
Air conditioner registration: If an air conditioner is registered on your connection — meaning your DISCO knows you have one — you are automatically classified as unprotected even if you never use the AC. The meter type or appliance usage doesn't matter. The registration classification does.
Stay under 200 units in summer — it matters more than you think.
In a Faisalabad July with one AC running 8 hours a day, staying under 200 units is genuinely difficult. But if you're close — say, 190 units mid-month — reducing AC hours for the last 10 days of the billing cycle can keep you in the protected bracket and save Rs. 1,000-3,000 on that one bill. You should photograph your meter on the 15th of every month to see where you are.
Step 3: How to calculate energy charges?
Once you know your units and your tariff category, the energy charge is straightforward.
For unprotected consumers, Pakistan's slab system works as follows: whichever slab your total consumption falls into, that rate applies to all your units for that month. There is no incremental pricing between slabs. The approximate 2026 unprotected slab rates for residential consumers (A-1) are below.
Monthly consumption | Approx. rate/unit (2026) | Fixed charge/month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1 – 50 units (Lifeline) | Rs. 3.95 | Rs. 0 | Fully protected. No GST. |
1 – 100 units | Rs. 7.74 | Rs. 75 | Protected bracket |
101 – 200 units | Rs. 10.06 – 13.01 | Rs. 100 | Protected bracket |
201 – 300 units | Rs. 22 – 33 | Rs. 150 | Unprotected — rate applies to all units |
301 – 400 units | Rs. 33 – 38 | Rs. 200 | Unprotected — rate applies to all units |
401 – 500 units | Rs. 38 – 42 | Rs. 200 | Unprotected |
501 – 700 units | Rs. 42 – 45 | Rs. 200 | Unprotected |
Above 700 units | Rs. 45 – 48 | Rs. 500 | Highest slab. Entire bill at this rate. |
Verify current rates. Slab rates are revised by NEPRA through formal tariff determinations — sometimes mid-year. The figures above are approximate 2026 reference values from the January 2, 2026 NEPRA determination. For the current approved rates, check nepra.org.pk or look at the back of your printed electricity bill — DISCOs are required to print the applicable tariff schedule there.
Step 4: Add fixed charges
Fixed charges apply regardless of consumption. They appear on your bill even if you used zero units.
Charge | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
Fixed monthly charge (single-phase) | Rs. 75 – 200/month depending on slab | All residential consumers except Lifeline |
Fixed monthly charge (three-phase) | Rs. 150 – 500/month | Three-phase connections |
Meter rent | Rs. 10 – 15/month (varies by DISCO) | Some connections — not universal |
Step 5: Add FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment)
FCA — also written as FPA (Fuel Price Adjustment) on some DISCO bills — is the charge that catches most consumers off guard. It's a monthly per-unit surcharge set by NEPRA based on the actual cost of fuel used to generate electricity that month.
When the national grid burns expensive imported LNG, FCA is high and positive. During monsoon months when hydropower is abundant, FCA can be negative — meaning it actually reduces your bill.
NEPRA publishes FCA on approximately the 15th of each month, retroactively adjusting the previous month's generation costs. The FCA appears on your bill as a per-unit line item — multiply it by your units to get the rupee amount it adds.
Track FCA before your bill arrives
Our FPA Tracker publishes each month's FCA as soon as NEPRA announces it. In 2026, monthly FCA values have ranged from approximately Rs. 1.50 to Rs. 6.80 per unit. On a 300-unit bill, that's a Rs. 450 to Rs. 2,040 swing — just from FCA — with the same number of units.
GST is charged on FCA as well — so when FCA is high, your GST payment rises with it. The two compound each other.
Step 6: Add surcharges and electricity duty
Three additional per-unit or percentage charges appear on every bill above the Lifeline threshold.
Charge | Rate (approx. 2026) | Applied to | GST charged on this? |
|---|---|---|---|
NJ Surcharge (Neelum-Jhelum) | Rs. 0.10/unit | All consumers above Lifeline | Yes |
FC Surcharge (Financing Cost) | Rs. 0.43 – 3.23/unit (varies by slab) | Consumers above 200 units; lower for protected | Yes |
Electricity Duty (ED) | 1.5% of energy charges | All consumers — provincial tax | No |
The NJ Surcharge funds debt repayment for the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. The FC Surcharge covers the government's circular debt borrowings — the Rs. 1.225 trillion borrowed from commercial banks to manage the power sector's accumulated debt, now being repaid through every consumer's bill over 6 years. Electricity Duty is a provincial tax collected by the DISCO on behalf of the provincial government.
Step 7: Apply GST (17%)
GST is charged at 17% on a specific subset of your bill — not on everything.
Line item | GST applies? |
|---|---|
Energy charges | ✓ Yes — GST calculated on this |
FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment) | ✓ Yes — GST calculated on this |
FC Surcharge | ✓ Yes |
NJ Surcharge | ✓ Yes |
Electricity Duty | ✗ No |
Fixed monthly charges | ✗ No |
PTV TV licence fee | ✗ No |
Meter rent | ✗ No |
Lifeline consumers (up to 50 units per month) are generally exempt from GST on electricity. All other consumers pay the full 17%.
Step 8: Add PTV fee and income tax
Two final items appear on nearly every residential bill.
PTV TV Licence Fee: Rs. 35 per month, flat. Collected by the DISCO on behalf of Pakistan Television Corporation. Applies to every residential bill regardless of whether you own a television. No GST is charged on this fee.
Income Tax (Section 235): This applies only if your total bill exceeds Rs. 25,000 per month and you are not registered as a tax filer with FBR. Non-filers pay an additional withholding tax on the full bill amount. Tax filers can claim this back when filing their annual return. If your monthly residential bill is below Rs. 25,000, Section 235 income tax does not apply.
Full worked example — 300-unit LESCO household, August 2026
This example uses approximate 2026 figures for illustration. The consumer is unprotected (above 200 units, single-phase residential connection in Lahore).
Consumption: 300 units. Slab: 201-300 (unprotected). Example rate for this slab: Rs. 25/unit (verify your actual bill for the current approved rate). FCA this month: Rs. 4.50/unit (example — check the FPA Tracker for the actual current figure).
📊 Worked Example — 300 Units, LESCO Unprotected, August 2026 (Approximate)
Energy Charges
300 units × Rs. 25/unit (201–300 slab, approx.)Rs. 7,500
Fixed Charges
Single-phase monthly fixed charge (201–300 slab)Rs. 150
FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment)
300 units × Rs. 4.50/unit (example — varies monthly)Rs. 1,350
Surcharges
FC Surcharge — 300 units × Rs. 3.23/unitRs. 969
NJ Surcharge — 300 units × Rs. 0.10/unitRs. 30
Electricity Duty
1.5% of energy charges (1.5% × Rs. 7,500)Rs. 113
GST — 17% on energy + FCA + FC + NJ surcharges
GST base: Rs. 7,500 + Rs. 1,350 + Rs. 969 + Rs. 30 = Rs. 9,849
GST: 17% × Rs. 9,849Rs. 1,674
Fixed Levies
PTV TV Licence Fee: Rs. 35
Total Payable (before due date)≈ Rs. 11,821
⚠ This is an illustrative example only. Actual slab rates, FCA, and fixed charges change with each NEPRA determination and monthly notification. Always verify your official bill at echeckbills.pk using your reference number.
The base energy charge is Rs. 7,500. The taxes and surcharges add another Rs. 4,321 — roughly 58% on top of the base. This is why your bill reads so much higher than "units times rate."
Use our free electricity bill calculator to estimate your own bill with the current FCA and verified slab rates. Enter your units, select your DISCO, and you get a breakdown matching the structure above.
Why your bill changes month to month with the same usage
Three things can change your bill even when your meter reading is identical to last month.
FCA changes monthly. NEPRA sets a new Fuel Cost Adjustment every month. A swing from Rs. 2/unit to Rs. 6/unit on a 300-unit bill adds Rs. 1,200 to your total — before GST. On top of that, GST is charged on FCA, so the swing is actually larger in rupee terms.
Quarterly tariff adjustments (QTA). Every 3 months, NEPRA processes a quarterly tariff adjustment based on actual DISCO costs versus the approved tariff assumption. This is added or deducted as a per-unit adjustment — similar to FCA but issued quarterly.
You crossed a slab boundary. If your consumption moved from 198 units last month to 210 units this month, you moved from the protected bracket into the 201-300 unprotected slab. The rate applies to all 210 units — not just the extra 12 — and you're locked into unprotected status for 6 months.
Why your August bill is often higher even in the same season
August FCA values in Pakistan tend to be higher than July because June and July generation costs get retroactively settled in August billing cycles. Monsoon hydro generation helps in August-September but doesn't fully offset the LNG cost settlement. Check current FCA at the FPA Tracker before your bill arrives.
How to verify your own bill calculation
You don't need an accountant. The process takes about 5 minutes.
Get your official bill. Check it at echeckbills.pk using your reference number — the full bill loads in 5 seconds with all line items visible.
Check the meter readings. Subtract previous from current to get units. Compare with what your meter actually reads now. If the bill's readings don't match your meter, photograph it and call your DISCO helpline.
Identify your tariff category. Protected (A-1P) or unprotected (A-1). Check the billing category printed on your bill. If it says A-1 when you expected A-1P, that's a conversation with your DISCO subdivision office.
Use the bill calculator. Enter your units and current FCA into the electricity bill calculator. If your calculated total is significantly higher than your official bill, you may have received a relief credit. If it's significantly lower, investigate.
Check for arrears. If your bill shows arrears you don't recognise — especially on a connection you've recently taken over — visit your DISCO subdivision office with proof of the meter transfer. Arrears from a previous occupant can appear and must be contested formally.
Pay the bill first. Dispute second. Withholding payment adds a 10% late surcharge to an existing problem. Pay, keep the receipt, then file the complaint through your DISCO helpline or visit the subdivision office.
Frequently asked questions about this article
Bill calculation questions
How is an electricity bill calculated in Pakistan?
Start with units consumed (current meter reading minus previous reading). Match those units to your NEPRA tariff slab — protected (200 units or fewer) or unprotected (above 200). Calculate energy charges at the slab rate. Then add: fixed charges, FCA, NJ surcharge, FC surcharge, electricity duty (1.5%) and GST (17%) on energy charges plus FCA and surcharges. Then add the PTV TV licence fee of Rs. 35. The total is your amount payable by the due date.
What is the difference between protected and unprotected electricity tariff?
Protected consumers (A-1P) use 200 units or fewer per month, have no registered air conditioner and a sanctioned load under 5kW. They pay a heavily subsidised rate. Unprotected consumers (A-1) pay the full progressive slab rate — applied to all their units, not just units above the threshold. If you exceed 200 units even once, NEPRA regulations lock you into unprotected rates for the following 6 months.
What is FCA or FPA on a Pakistan electricity bill?
FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment) — also written as FPA on some DISCO bills — is a monthly variable per-unit charge set by NEPRA. It reflects the actual fuel cost of electricity generation versus the reference cost built into the base tariff. In 2026, monthly FCA values have ranged from approximately Rs. 1.50 to Rs. 6.80 per unit. FCA can also be negative in high-hydel months. Track the current month's FCA at our FPA Tracker.
How much is GST on electricity in Pakistan 2026?
GST on electricity is 17% as of 2026. It's applied to energy charges, FCA, FC surcharge and NJ surcharge. GST does not apply to the PTV TV licence fee, meter rent or fixed monthly charges. Lifeline consumers (up to 50 units per month) are generally exempt from GST on electricity.
What is the NJ surcharge and FC surcharge on electricity bills?
The NJ Surcharge (Neelum-Jhelum Surcharge) is a per-unit levy of approximately Rs. 0.10/unit funding debt repayment for the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. The FC Surcharge (Financing Cost Surcharge) is a per-unit charge — approximately Rs. 0.43 to Rs. 3.23/unit depending on your slab — covering the government's circular debt borrowings from commercial banks. Both are standard NEPRA levies on every DISCO bill above the Lifeline threshold.
Why does my electricity bill change even when I use the same units?
Three main reasons. First, FCA changes every month based on actual fuel costs — a swing from Rs. 2 to Rs. 6 per unit adds Rs. 1,200 to a 300-unit bill before GST. Second, NEPRA issues quarterly tariff adjustments (QTA) every 3 months, adding or deducting a per-unit amount. Third, if you crossed a slab boundary from the previous month, your entire consumption is now priced at the higher rate. Track FCA at our FPA Tracker.
What is the late payment surcharge on electricity bills?
A 10% late payment surcharge (LPS) is added to your outstanding amount if you pay after the due date printed on your bill. Your bill already shows the "after due date" amount with this surcharge included — so you can see exactly what late payment costs before deciding. Pay at least 2 days before the due date via JazzCash, EasyPaisa, Raast or any bank app to avoid this charge.
Bijli bill ka hisaab kaise lagta hai Pakistan mein?
Pehle units nikalte hain: current meter reading minus previous reading. Phir ye units NEPRA ke slab rate se multiply karte hain — protected category (200 units tak) ya unprotected (200 se zyada). Energy charges ke baad fixed charges, FCA (Fuel Cost Adjustment), NJ surcharge, FC surcharge, electricity duty (1.5%) aur GST (17%) add hoti hai. Aur Rs. 35 PTV TV fee. Jo total aata hai woh due date se pehle pay karna hota hai — baad mein 10% extra lagta hai. Apna bill echeckbills.pk par reference number se 5 second mein check karein.
Check your official bill right now at echeckbills.pk — enter the reference number; full breakdown out in 5 seconds. Then run it through the bill calculator to verify every line. If the numbers don't match, that's a billing dispute worth pursuing.