Electricity Bill Calculator

How Pakistani electricity tariffs work

Electricity in Pakistan is sold under progressive slab tariffs set by NEPRA (the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority). Each block of units (1 to 100, 101 to 200, and so on) has its own per-unit rate, and the rate increases as you move into higher blocks. Each slab's rate applies only to the units inside that slab, not to the whole bill. This is the principle the calculator implements.

Approximate 2025 unprotected residential slabs

In Pakistani rupees per unit (approximate): 1 to 100 units 23.44, 101 to 200 units 30.00, 201 to 300 units 34.26, 301 to 400 units 39.15, 401 to 500 units 41.36, 501 to 600 units 42.89, 601 to 700 units 44.40, above 700 units 49.10. These are the unprotected residential rates that apply to most households. They change with the regular NEPRA tariff revisions, so verify the latest rates if exact matching matters.

Protected versus unprotected customers

Protected customers are households that have consumed 200 units or less every month for six consecutive months. They get significantly lower per-unit rates. Once a household's monthly use exceeds 200 units for a month, they fall into the unprotected category and face the higher tariffs above. The calculator uses unprotected rates by default; for protected status, edit the slab values down to your protected rates.

Why slabs are progressive

Progressive tariffs make the first few units cheap (so even very low-income households can afford basic lighting and fans) and the higher slabs expensive (to discourage heavy usage and recover infrastructure costs). It is a way to subsidise essential consumption without across-the-board cheap power. Almost every country uses some version of progressive tariffs for residential electricity.

How to read your meter

Modern Pakistani meters are mostly digital. Note the reading at the start and end of a billing cycle (usually a month); the difference is the units consumed. Many DISCOs also publish recent meter readings on their websites or apps. Enter the difference into the calculator's units field to estimate the bill for that cycle.

The fixed monthly charge

Most Pakistani DISCOs charge a small fixed amount each month regardless of consumption, to cover meter and line maintenance. This is usually a few tens of rupees. The calculator includes a field for the fixed charge so you can match your actual bill.

Taxes and surcharges

Pakistani electricity bills include several charges beyond the per-unit cost: General Sales Tax (GST) on the energy cost, electricity duty, financial cost surcharge, the neelum jhelum surcharge for the hydro project, and the TV fee. The calculator's tax field handles GST; the other surcharges depend on your DISCO and the month, so they are usually 10 to 25 percent above the calculator's estimate.

What drives a high bill in Pakistan

Air conditioning is the single biggest residential load. A 1.5-ton AC running for 8 hours a day for a month adds about 400 to 500 units. Refrigerators, electric water heaters, and electric irons are also significant. LED lighting, an efficient (inverter) AC, smart thermostats, and good insulation are the highest-impact ways to reduce a Pakistani electricity bill, especially in summer.

Strategies to reduce your bill

Keep your monthly use below the next slab boundary if you are close. Service AC and refrigerator coils yearly. Switch to LED lighting (saves 80 percent versus incandescent). Set AC to 24-26 degrees instead of 18-20. Use timers and smart plugs to cut standby load. Consider a solar-with-net-metering system for high-use households; the payback in Pakistan is often 4 to 7 years at current tariffs.