A new charge has been added to electricity bills across Pakistan — one that applies regardless of how many units you consumed that month. In February 2026, NEPRA approved fixed monthly charges ranging from Rs200 to Rs675 per kilowatt of sanctioned load, effective across all WAPDA DISCOs. Whether you used 50 units or 500 units, this charge still applies.
This is a significant structural shift. Pakistan's electricity billing has always been almost entirely volumetric — you pay for what you use. The new fixed charge introduces a base cost tied not to consumption, but to the size of your connection. For consumers who installed solar specifically to reduce their grid bills, this is particularly unwelcome.
What Is the New Fixed Charge?
The fixed monthly charge is a separate levy calculated based on your sanctioned load — the maximum electricity load approved for your meter, measured in kilowatts (kW). It is distinct from the old meter rent (Rs75 per month for single-phase connections), which continues to apply separately. This is not a replacement for meter rent. It is an addition to it.
The critical detail: this is not a flat per-connection fee. It is a per-kW charge. A household with a 2kW sanctioned load pays twice what a 1kW connection pays at the same rate. A 4kW connection pays four times as much.
To find your sanctioned load, look at the consumer details block at the top of your electricity bill — the section that shows your name, Reference Number, and tariff type. Your sanctioned load is listed there in kilowatts.
The Rate Structure — What You Will Pay
The rate depends on two things: whether you are a protected or unprotected consumer, and which consumption bracket you fall into for that billing month.
Protected consumers (A-1P — up to 200 units, no AC registered, sanctioned load under 5kW):
| Monthly consumption | Fixed charge rate |
|---|---|
| 1–100 units | Rs200 per kW per month |
| 101–200 units | Rs300 per kW per month |
Unprotected consumers (A-1):
| Monthly consumption | Fixed charge rate |
|---|---|
| 1–100 units | Rs275 per kW per month |
| 101–200 units | Rs400 per kW per month |
| 201–300 units | Rs550 per kW per month |
| 301–400 units | Rs600 per kW per month |
| 401–500 units | Rs650 per kW per month |
| 600+ units | Rs675 per kW per month |
Lifeline consumers — those on the lowest consumption tier — are exempt.
A practical example. An unprotected IESCO consumer in Islamabad with a 2kW sanctioned load who uses 250 units in a month pays Rs550 × 2kW = Rs1,100 in fixed charges for that month, on top of all energy charges, FPA, GST, and other surcharges. That is before a single unit of electricity is counted.
How This Differs From Existing Fixed Charges
Pakistani electricity bills already had fixed charges before this policy. To be clear about what is changing:
- Meter rent: Rs75/month (single-phase), Rs150/month (three-phase) — unchanged, still applies
- TV licence fee: Rs35/month — unchanged, still applies
- New NEPRA fixed charge: Rs200–675 per kW of sanctioned load — new, in addition to the above
When you see a new line item on your bill substantially larger than Rs75, that is the new fixed charge. For a full breakdown of all existing charges on a Pakistani electricity bill, see Every Charge on Your Electricity Bill Explained.
Why NEPRA Introduced Fixed Charges
The rationale from NEPRA is structural. Over 93% of electricity system costs were being recovered through per-unit charges, while a large portion of actual grid costs — generation capacity payments, NTDC transmission charges, distribution infrastructure — are fixed regardless of how much electricity flows. The grid costs money to maintain whether consumers draw from it or not.
There is a second driver: solar adoption. As more households install rooftop solar and reduce grid consumption, per-unit revenue falls — but the fixed costs of running the grid do not. Fixed charges ensure DISCOs recover a baseline amount even when consumers generate their own electricity. This is precisely why the policy has drawn strong criticism from solar users. The whole point of solar was to reduce the bijli bill. A fixed charge that applies regardless of grid consumption directly limits how much that reduction can be.
NEPRA's position is that the current tariff structure created an unfair cross-subsidy: consumers who reduced grid consumption through solar were effectively shifting more of the fixed grid costs onto consumers who cannot afford solar. The fixed charge, in theory, distributes that cost more evenly.
Current Status — Approved, But Under Challenge
NEPRA issued its formal determination on February 11, 2026. The charges are approved and are being applied across WAPDA DISCOs including LESCO, MEPCO, IESCO, FESCO, GEPCO, and PESCO.
A review petition has been filed with NEPRA challenging the determination. That petition is pending as of April 2026. The rates above reflect the current approved determination. If the review results in a modification, the figures may change — verify the latest position on the NEPRA website before making any financial decisions based on these numbers.
What This Means for Solar Users and Low-Consumption Households
This is where the policy bites hardest.
A household that installed solar to stay under 100 units of grid consumption per month pays the fixed charge on their full sanctioned load regardless. In a good solar month where you drew only 30 units from the grid, you still owe the fixed charge as if you were a regular grid consumer at that load level. The lower your grid consumption, the higher the fixed charge is as a percentage of your total bill.
Protected consumers on very low consumption are also affected. A 1kW protected connection using under 100 units pays Rs200/month in fixed charges — modest in isolation, but proportionally significant for a household that may have had a total bill of Rs400–600 before this change.
For households considering solar as a way to reduce or eliminate grid bills: the new fixed charge means your bill cannot go to zero as long as your meter remains active. Factor this into any payback calculations for a solar system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new fixed charge on my electricity bill in Pakistan?
A fixed monthly charge approved by NEPRA in February 2026, calculated per kilowatt of your sanctioned load. It ranges from Rs200/kW for protected consumers using under 100 units to Rs675/kW for high-consumption unprotected consumers. It applies regardless of how many units you consumed that month.
How do I calculate my fixed charge?
Find your sanctioned load on your electricity bill — it is in the consumer details block at the top, listed in kilowatts. Multiply it by the applicable rate from the tables above based on your tariff type and monthly consumption. For example: a 2kW unprotected connection using 250 units pays Rs550 × 2 = Rs1,100 per month in fixed charges.
Does the fixed charge apply even if I have solar panels?
Yes. The charge is based on your sanctioned load, not your grid consumption. Even in a month where your solar system covers most of your electricity and you draw very few units from the grid, the full fixed charge still applies. This is one of the most contested aspects of the policy.
Are protected consumers affected?
Yes. Protected consumers (A-1P) are subject to fixed charges at lower rates — Rs200/kW for under 100 units and Rs300/kW for 101–200 units per month. Only lifeline consumers are fully exempt.
When did these fixed charges start appearing on bills?
NEPRA approved the determination on February 11, 2026. If you have not yet seen it on your bill, check your most recent duplicate bill through iBill.pk — it appears as a new line item separate from meter rent.
Is this determination being challenged?
Yes. A review petition was filed with NEPRA after the determination. As of April 2026 the petition is pending, and the approved rates stand unless modified. Check the NEPRA website for the latest status.