The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has announced a reduction of Rs0.62 per unit in electricity tariffs after issuing an official notification applicable to consumers across Pakistan.
According to the notification, the decrease has been approved on account of fuel cost adjustment for November and will be reflected in January electricity bills. The relief will apply to all consumer categories nationwide, including Karachi, though lifeline consumers will not benefit from the reduction.
The decision follows a request by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), which had earlier urged Nepra to refund Rs0.72 per unit to consumers through January bills. Had the full amount been approved, it could have provided relief exceeding Rs5.6 billion.
Nepra conducts monthly fuel price adjustment reviews to account for fluctuations in international fuel prices and electricity generation costs, with the resulting impact passed on to consumers in subsequent billing cycles.
Nepra Issues Average Base Tariff for 2026
Meanwhile, Nepra has also announced the average base electricity tariff for the January–December 2026 period, setting it at Rs33.38 per unit. The authority said the new rate offers modest relief following years of sustained tariff hikes.
In a significant policy shift, the government has moved tariff determination from a fiscal-year to a calendar-year basis. The rebased consumer-end tariff will take effect from January 1, 2026.
Nepra noted that the newly notified tariff is 62 paisa lower than the rate applicable during July–December 2025, when the average tariff stood at Rs34 per unit. However, compared with the current base tariff of Rs31.59 per unit, the new rate represents an increase of Rs1.79 per unit.
The authority estimated the total financial requirement of distribution companies (Discos) for 2026 at Rs3,379 billion, including Rs2,923 billion for electricity procurement and Rs456.15 billion for operational expenses and profit margins.
Annual electricity sales are projected at 101 billion units, with Nepra stating that the revised tariff structure is designed to ensure cost recovery while meeting the power sector’s financial needs.