Understanding Electricity Tariff Slabs in Pakistan (2026 Guide)

Electricity tariff slabs decide how much you pay for every unit in Pakistan, and understanding them separates a protected rate near PKR 13 from an unprotected rate above PKR 40 for the very same 100 units. NEPRA sets the slabs, and every distribution company applies the same residential schedule, from LESCO in Lahore to QESCO in Quetta. Your slab depends on how many units you burn in a month and whether you count as a protected consumer. This guide explains what a tariff slab is, how the rate climbs with usage, why crossing 200 units can jump your whole bill, and how the same bands apply across all eleven DISCOs. You will also see the current residential rates, the extra charges stacked on top, and practical ways to stay in a cheaper slab.

What is a tariff slab

A tariff slab is a usage band that carries a fixed per-unit rate. NEPRA divides monthly consumption into steps, such as 1 to 100 units, 101 to 200 units, and so on, and each step charges more per unit than the one below it. The idea is simple. Light users pay a low rate, and heavy users pay a higher rate as a way to price scarce supply. So the same kilowatt hour can cost you very different amounts depending on the band your monthly total lands in.

How the rate climbs as you use more

Rates rise step by step, and this is where most bills grow faster than people expect. A protected household under 100 units pays the lowest rate, but a home that reaches 350 units pays a much higher rate on the units in the top band. For unprotected consumers the jump is sharper still, because once your monthly usage crosses a slab boundary, the higher rate can apply across a large share of your units, not just the last few. That is why a small rise in usage sometimes brings a large rise in the bill.

Protected and unprotected consumers

Protected status is the single biggest factor in your rate. A protected consumer stays under 200 units a month for six consecutive months and pays the lowest NEPRA slabs. An unprotected consumer uses more, or has crossed 200 units in the past six months, and pays a higher rate for the same consumption. The gap is large: a protected user on 100 units can pay around PKR 13 per unit, while an unprotected user on the same 100 units pays near PKR 23 per unit. Your bill prints your category, so check it and guard your protected status if you have it.

Current residential tariff slabs

Residential rates below are indicative and apply the same way across every DISCO, since NEPRA sets one national schedule. Read the exact figure on your own bill, because the regulator revises rates from time to time.

Monthly usage	Approximate rate
1 to 100 units (protected)	PKR 7.74 to 13.48 per unit
1 to 100 units (unprotected)	PKR 23.59 per unit
101 to 200 units	PKR 30.07 per unit
201 to 300 units	PKR 34.26 per unit
301 to 400 units	PKR 39.15 per unit
401 to 500 units	PKR 41.36 per unit
501 to 600 units	PKR 42.33 per unit
Above 700 units	PKR 48.84 per unit

The same slabs apply to every DISCO

Distribution companies do not set their own slabs. NEPRA fixes one residential schedule, and each DISCO bills against it, so a 250-unit home pays the same slab rate whether the meter sits in Lahore or Peshawar. What differs between companies is the local grid, the helpline and the office you visit, not the tariff. You can check the bill and slab detail for your own company on its page:

• LESCO for Lahore and central Punjab
• MEPCO for Multan and south Punjab
• FESCO for Faisalabad division
• IESCO for Islamabad and Rawalpindi
• GEPCO for Gujranwala division
• PESCO for Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• TESCO for the merged tribal districts
• HAZECO for Hazara division
• HESCO for Hyderabad and south Sindh
• SEPCO for Sukkur and north Sindh
• QESCO for Quetta and Balochistan

What sits on top of the slab rate

Charges beyond the cost of units make the final bill larger than the slab rate alone. Your bill adds several lines to the electricity charge.

• Fixed charges and meter rent, billed on higher-usage connections.
• Fuel price adjustment, which NEPRA notifies each month as fuel costs move.
• General sales tax, applied to the charges as a percentage.
• The PTV licence fee collected on domestic bills.
• Income tax above set usage and amount thresholds.

These extras mean two homes on the same units can still pay different totals, since taxes and adjustments scale with the amount and the connection type.

Commercial, industrial and agricultural tariffs

Non-domestic tariffs follow a different logic, so a shop or tube well is not billed on the residential slabs above. Commercial connections pay a per-unit rate plus a fixed charge based on sanctioned load. Industrial tariffs often split into peak and off-peak rates. Agricultural tube-well connections carry their own subsidised schedule. If you run a business, read the tariff category printed on your bill, because moving to the correct category can change your rate.

Peak and off-peak hours

Time of Use metering charges more during the evening peak, which matters for larger connections. Homes on a Time of Use meter pay a higher rate during peak hours, usually the evening, and a lower rate off-peak. Shifting heavy loads such as the iron, washing machine and water pump to off-peak hours then trims the bill without cutting usage. Most small domestic meters bill a single rate, so check whether your meter is single-rate or Time of Use.

How to stay in a lower slab

Staying in a lower band is the most direct saving, and it comes down to watching your units. Track your running total in the middle of the month, and if you are near a boundary, delay a heavy load by a day. Switching to LED bulbs, servicing the air conditioner and cutting standby load all shave units off the total. Our full guide on how to reduce your electricity bill in Pakistan lists ten proven ways with the numbers behind each one.

Frequently asked questions

What is an electricity tariff slab in Pakistan?

A tariff slab is a monthly usage band with a fixed per-unit rate set by NEPRA. Consumption is split into steps such as 1 to 100 and 101 to 200 units, and each higher step charges more per unit. Your bill applies the slab that matches your monthly total.

What is the difference between a protected and unprotected consumer?

A protected consumer stays under 200 units a month for six straight months and pays the lowest rates, while an unprotected consumer uses more and pays a higher rate for the same units. The difference can be over PKR 10 per unit, so protected status is worth guarding.

Do all electricity companies charge the same slabs?

Yes, every DISCO applies the same NEPRA residential schedule, so LESCO, MEPCO, IESCO and the rest charge the same slab rates. Only the local grid, helpline and office differ between companies, not the tariff itself.

Why did my bill jump after a small rise in units?

Your usage crossed a slab boundary, so a higher per-unit rate applied to more of your units. For unprotected consumers the higher rate can hit a large share of the month's units at once. Watching your running total helps you avoid crossing a boundary near month end.

What extra charges are added to the slab rate?

Bills add fixed charges, meter rent, the monthly fuel price adjustment, general sales tax, the PTV licence fee, and income tax above set thresholds. These lines mean the final amount is higher than the slab rate multiplied by your units alone.

How can I move to a cheaper slab?

Cut your monthly units so your total falls into a lower band, and keep under 200 units for six months to hold protected status. Replacing bulbs with LEDs, servicing the air conditioner and killing standby load all help. The bill reduction guide covers the biggest wins.

Check your own bill online with your 14-digit reference number, read the slab and category it prints, and compare your units against last month. If the amount looks wrong for your usage, act before the due date. Our guide on what to do if your electricity bill is wrong walks through the fix.