An electricity bill combines the cost of supplied electricity with tariff adjustments, taxes or duties, and any unpaid balance. The exact rows and amounts are determined by the tariff and the rules in force for that billing period, so a bill itself and the relevant official notification are more reliable than a generic rate table.
NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual sets out the information DISCOs must show on monthly bills. Not every item appears on every bill.
Electricity Charges
For a residential connection, the largest amount is usually the variable charge for the units recorded during the billing period. The applicable tariff category, consumption band, meter type and any tariff terms determine that amount. Use the applicable NEPRA notification — not an old blog table — to verify a rate.
The current residential tariff notification, including the February 2026 fixed-charge schedule, is S.R.O. 279(I)/2026. NEPRA also maintains a tariff archive where later notifications and DISCO decisions can be checked.
Monthly Adjustments
Some bill lines are separate from the base electricity charge. The Consumer Service Manual lists examples including Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA), quarterly tariff adjustment, financing-cost surcharge and annual distribution-margin component. Their presence, rate and consumer coverage can change through official decisions.
For FPA, check the specific NEPRA decision for the month of energy use and its implementation instructions. Our FPA guide explains how to read that decision without treating a past rate as a current one.
Fixed Charges
Some residential bills include a fixed charge related to the tariff category and sanctioned load. It is not the same as the variable cost of consumed units. The amount should be verified against the tariff notification for the billing period. See Residential Fixed Charges for the official February 2026 A-1 schedule and an example calculation.
Taxes, Duties and Other Charges
The Consumer Service Manual provides for bills to show applicable government taxes, duties and other charges. Examples listed by NEPRA include electricity duty, PTV fee, withholding tax and any federal or provincial charge or surcharge. A charge is not necessarily applicable to every customer, province, tariff category or billing month.
For that reason, this article does not promise a universal GST percentage, PTV fee, meter-rent amount or surcharge. Read the row on your own bill, then confirm it against the relevant current tariff, law or DISCO notice.
Arrears and Late Payment Surcharge
An arrears or previous-balance row is an unpaid amount carried from an earlier bill. The Consumer Service Manual defines Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) as the amount levied when a bill is not paid by its due date; the post-due-date payable amount includes LPS.
The same manual says the due date should be within 15 days of the bill’s issue date and consumers should have at least seven clear days from actual bill delivery. Those rules do not replace the due date printed on your bill — use the printed date when making payment.
A Safe Way to Check a Bill
- Compare the current and previous meter readings, multiplying factor and billed units.
- Confirm the tariff category and sanctioned load shown on the bill.
- Separate the base variable charge, fixed charge, adjustments, taxes or duties, and any arrears.
- Check the current official notification for a disputed tariff or adjustment amount.
- If a reading or billing detail looks wrong, use the complaint contact printed on the bill and keep a copy of the bill, meter photo and payment receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my total payable higher than the electricity-charge row?
The total may include adjustments, applicable taxes or duties, fixed charges, arrears or a late-payment surcharge. Check each listed row rather than assuming all of the increase is from units consumed.
Is every charge shown on every electricity bill?
No. NEPRA’s bill format lists possible items, but applicability depends on the customer, tariff, province and official decisions for the billing period.
Where can I verify an FPA or tariff figure?
Use NEPRA’s official tariff archive and open the decision or notification for the correct month. Check its covered customers and billing implementation date as well as its rate.