The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a new electricity tariff system starting from January 2026, bringing a major change for domestic consumers. Under the new system, fixed charges will now be based on the electricity load (kW) instead of monthly usage. Previously, these charges were applied according to how many units of electricity a consumer used, but now the billing method has shifted to a load-based structure.
This decision was made on the request of the federal government, and it applies to almost all domestic users except lifeline consumers, who are protected due to lower electricity usage. Both protected and non-protected consumers will now face these fixed charges, which are expected to increase the overall electricity bill significantly.
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Under the new formula, fixed charges will range from around Rs. 200 per kilowatt to Rs. 675 per month, depending on the consumer’s load capacity. This means that even if a household uses less electricity, they will still have to pay higher fixed charges based on their approved load. In contrast, the old system only applied fixed charges to users consuming more than 300 units per month, with charges ranging between Rs. 200 and Rs. 1,000.
For example, if a household has a load of 5 kilowatts, the fixed monthly charges could now range between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 3,375, depending on the tariff slab. As the load increases or if the consumer moves into a higher slab, the charges will also rise accordingly.
This new policy is likely to impact many households, especially those with higher load connections, as it increases the financial burden regardless of actual electricity usage. While authorities believe this system will improve revenue stability, consumers may feel the pressure of higher bills in the coming months.
