How to Read Your Electricity Bill in Pakistan: Every Line Explained
LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO and the other distribution companies (DISCOs) print the same charges in slightly different boxes. Learn what each line means and you can check your bill in ten minutes, spotting a wrong reading, tariff or tax.
To read an electricity bill in Pakistan, start with units consumed (present reading minus previous reading). Multiply them by your slab rate, which depends on your category: protected (200 units or less in each of the last six months) or non-protected. Then add the fixed charge, which is now Rs200–675 per kW of sanctioned load. On top of that come the per-unit FPA, QTA and FC surcharge, then 18% GST, plus income tax only if the bill is Rs25,000 or more and you are not on the Active Taxpayers List. The PTV fee and electricity duty were taken off bills in July 2025.
The sample bill, annotated
Below is a simplified, generic layout; every box appears on real DISCO bills in some form. The figures belong to a hypothetical non-protected household that used 350 units on a 4 kW load. Tap a pink number to jump to its explanation.
6Units history
What each numbered line means
Lines 1 to 6 identify you and your usage; lines 7 to 17 turn that usage into money.
Reference number and customer ID
The 14-digit reference number is your connection's address in the billing system. You need it to download a duplicate bill, pay through a banking app, or lodge a complaint. LESCO also accepts a separate customer ID. Save both on your phone.
Tariff code and sanctioned load
A tariff code starting with A-1 means a residential connection. Sanctioned load (kW) is the demand your connection was approved for. Since S.R.O. 279(I)/2026 of February 2026, it sets your fixed charge: an 8 kW house pays twice the fixed charge of a 4 kW house in the same slab. If the printed load is far above what you draw, ask your sub-division about reducing it.
Bill month, reading date and due date
The bill month is when the bill is issued, not when you used the power. If the gap between two reading dates runs well past 30 days, extra units can push you into a higher slab. The Power Division says consumers get at least seven days to pay, and the printed due date is the last day without a surcharge.
Meter readings and units consumed
Units = (present reading − previous reading) × multiplying factor (MF), which is 1 for ordinary house meters. Bills now print the reader's photo of your meter. Compare its digits with the "present" figure; a mismatch is the easiest error to prove.
Peak and off-peak units
These boxes are filled only for time-of-use (ToU) meters, which apply to residential connections of 5 kW and above. Under the current schedule, peak units cost Rs46.85 and off-peak units Rs34.53 before taxes. Peak hours are an evening window that shifts with the season; your DISCO publishes the timings. Single-rate meters leave these boxes blank.
Units history (last 12 months)
This strip decides your category. A household is protected only if it used 200 units or less in each of the previous six months. In our sample, April to September all crossed 200, so October is billed at non-protected rates. The government has told the IMF it will replace the 200-unit subsidy with a BISP-linked scheme from January 2027, and dropping the six-month rule was under review in September 2026. Neither is in force yet. Our guide to protected vs non-protected consumers covers the rule in detail.
Cost of electricity (energy charge)
Units multiplied by your slab rate, usually the largest line. Protected consumers get the benefit of one previous slab: at 180 units, 100 are charged at the 1–100 rate and 80 at the 101–200 rate. Non-protected consumers pay every unit at the rate of the slab reached, hence 350 × Rs36.46 = Rs12,761 in the sample.
Fixed charges
Fixed charges are now Rs200 to Rs675 per kW of sanctioned load per month, depending on your slab. They apply even in a low-use month; lifeline consumers are exempt. In the sample, the 301–400 slab carries Rs400 per kW, and 4 kW × Rs400 = Rs1,600. For ToU connections the fixed charge is worked out on 50% of sanctioned load or the maximum demand reading, whichever is higher.
Fuel price adjustment (FPA / FCA)
The FPA corrects for the gap between assumed and actual fuel cost, about two months later. October 2026 bills carry the adjustment for August 2026 fuel: +Rs1.11 per unit, notified by NEPRA on 7 October 2026. Some months it is a refund. Lifeline and prepaid-tariff consumers are exempt.
Quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA)
The QTA settles other cost differences, such as capacity payments, once a quarter. For September, October and November 2026 it is +Rs0.5194 per unit. From June to August it was a cut of Rs1.9857, which is why many bills rose in September. Lifeline, prepaid and incremental-package units are excluded.
F.C. surcharge
A financing-cost surcharge of Rs3.23 per unit that services loans taken to clear the power sector's circular debt. When it was set in 2023, protected domestic consumers were excluded. January 2026 reports say it will stay for up to six years.
General sales tax (GST)
GST is 18%, charged on the electricity charges: energy cost, fixed charges, FPA, QTA and the F.C. surcharge. On most bills it is the second-largest line after the energy charge.
Electricity duty and PTV fee
Both should now read zero. The Rs35 monthly PTV fee was withdrawn from electricity bills in July 2025, and the federal government stopped collecting provincial electricity duty (1% to 3% of the bill) through bills from 1 July 2025. If either line still shows an amount, ask your sub-division in writing why.
Income tax
Domestic consumers pay withholding tax of 7.5% only when the monthly bill is Rs25,000 or more and the person is not on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL). The DISCO checks the CNIC recorded on the connection, so if the meter is in a landlord's name, their ATL status counts. Salaried filers can estimate their own tax with our salary tax calculator.
Meter rent and other charges
Usually zero on ordinary domestic connections. The same block can hold instalments or corrections; ask about any figure you cannot explain.
Arrears
Unpaid amounts from earlier bills. If you paid and still see arrears, the payment may not have posted; show your receipt. A detection bill is different: a separate assessment issued when the company believes earlier bills under-recorded use.
Payable within and after due date
The second figure adds the late payment surcharge, about 10% of the current month's charges on most domestic bills: Rs18,952.91 × 1.10 = Rs20,848. Treat the printed figure as final, as rounding differs between companies.
Check your own bill in a minute
Enter your units, category and the FPA printed on your bill. The calculator shows energy, fixed charges, adjustments and GST line by line, and every rate can be edited to match your bill.
Current slab rates and fixed charges (October 2026)
Residential base rates in force since 12 February 2026. Under the uniform tariff, every ex-WAPDA DISCO charges the same base rate. Figures exclude FPA, QTA, F.C. surcharge and GST. The full schedule is on the IESCO tariff guide and NEPRA's tariff notifications page.
| Category | Monthly units | Rate (Rs/unit) | Fixed (Rs/kW/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline | |||
| Lifeline | 1–50 | 3.95 | — |
| Lifeline | 51–100 | 7.74 | — |
| Protected | |||
| Protected | 1–100 | 10.54 | 200 |
| Protected | 101–200 | 13.01 | 300 |
| Non-protected | |||
| Non-protected | 1–100 | 22.44 | 275 |
| Non-protected | 101–200 | 28.91 | 300 |
| Non-protected | 201–300 | 33.10 | 350 |
| Non-protected | 301–400 | 36.46 | 400 |
| Non-protected | 401–500 | 38.95 | 500 |
| Non-protected | 501–600 | 40.22 | 675 |
| Non-protected | 601–700 | 41.85 | 675 |
| Non-protected | Above 700 | 47.20 | 675 |
| 5 kW and above | |||
| Time of use | Peak / off-peak | 46.85 / 34.53 | 675 |
Source: S.R.O. 279(I)/2026 as published in the IESCO tariff guide. K-Electric customers are covered by the same uniform consumer-end tariff, but check KE's own notices for adjustments.
What changed on your bill in 2025–26
Comparing with an old bill? Several lines have changed.
| Bill line | Before | Now (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| PTV fee | Rs35 per connection each month | Withdrawn from July 2025 |
| Electricity duty | 1%–3% collected for provinces | Collection through bills stopped from 1 July 2025 |
| Fixed charges | Charged to fewer households, not linked to kW for most domestic users | Rs200–675 per kW of sanctioned load, protected included; lifeline exempt |
| Slab rates above 300 units | Higher base rates | Cut by Rs0.49–1.53 per unit in February 2026 |
| F.C. surcharge | Rs3.23 per unit | Unchanged; expected to stay up to six years |
| Income tax (non-ATL) | 7.5% on bills of Rs25,000+ | Unchanged for tax year 2027 |
Rates move often. FPA is notified almost every month and QTA every quarter. Always compare with the rates printed on your latest bill.
Two worked examples
Both households are hypothetical. The bills use the October 2026 adjustments: FPA +Rs1.11 and QTA +Rs0.5194 per unit.
Example 1: Sana, protected, 180 units, 2 kW load
Sana's flat in Rawalpindi has stayed under 200 units for six months.
- Energy: first 100 units × Rs10.54 = Rs1,054.00; next 80 units × Rs13.01 = Rs1,040.80. Total Rs2,094.80.
- Fixed charge: the 101–200 slab is Rs300 per kW, so 2 × 300 = Rs600.00.
- FPA: 180 × 1.11 = Rs199.80.
- QTA: 180 × 0.5194 = Rs93.49.
- F.C. surcharge: zero, because protected consumers are excluded.
- Subtotal before tax: Rs2,988.09. GST at 18%: Rs537.86.
- Income tax: none; the bill is far below Rs25,000.
Example 2: the Ahmed family, non-protected, 350 units, 4 kW load
The household on the sample bill; summer air-conditioning took them past 200 units.
- Energy: all 350 units at the 301–400 rate: 350 × Rs36.46 = Rs12,761.00.
- Fixed charge: Rs400 per kW × 4 = Rs1,600.00.
- FPA: 350 × 1.11 = Rs388.50. QTA: 350 × 0.5194 = Rs181.79.
- F.C. surcharge: 350 × 3.23 = Rs1,130.50.
- Subtotal: Rs16,061.79. GST at 18%: Rs2,891.12.
- Income tax check: the bill is under Rs25,000, so no deduction. Had a hotter month pushed it to Rs30,000, a non-ATL consumer would pay 7.5% × 30,000 = Rs2,250 extra.
Watch the protected cliff. At 200 units a protected 2 kW house pays Rs2,955 in energy and fixed charges; at 201 units, now non-protected, it pays Rs7,353.10 before adjustments and tax. That single unit costs Rs4,398, and the higher rates last six months.
How to download a duplicate bill online
- Find the 14-digit reference number on an old bill or payment receipt.
- Open the official PITC bill portal at
bill.pitc.com.pkand choose your company (for example LESCO, MEPCO or FESCO). - Enter the reference number exactly, without spaces, and submit.
- Use your browser's print option to save the bill as a PDF or print it, then pay against it at a bank or through an app.
If the paper bill never arrived, lodge a complaint at ccms.pitc.com.pk. The Power Division's electricity billing page also explains meter photos, estimated bills and detection bills.
How to check if you are overcharged
- Read your meter when the bill arrives; it should be slightly above the bill's "present" figure, never below.
- Match the meter photo on the bill with the printed present reading.
- If the last six months were all 200 units or less, expect protected rates.
- Divide the cost of electricity by units; it should match a slab rate above.
- Multiply your sanctioned load by the fixed charge for your slab and compare.
- Confirm the FPA and QTA per unit against the latest NEPRA notification.
- Check that the PTV fee and electricity duty lines are zero.
- Filer charged income tax? Check the CNIC on the connection.
If something is wrong, take the bill and your own meter photo to the sub-division's customer service centre and get a complaint number. Unresolved complaints can go to NEPRA. Want to cut the bill for good? Our solar system calculator sizes a system from your monthly units.
Common mistakes when reading a bill
- Treating the bill month as the usage month. An October bill mostly covers September's use.
- Assuming slab rates are telescopic for everyone. Non-protected bills charge all units at one rate.
- Ignoring sanctioned load. An oversized load figure costs money every month.
- Reading 201 units as "almost 200".
- Paying a PTV fee or electricity duty without question.
- Calling GST "income tax".
- Waiting until the due date to dispute. Complain the day the bill arrives, so the company has time to correct it before the surcharge kicks in.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PTV fee still charged on electricity bills in 2026?
No. The Rs35 PTV fee was removed from electricity bills in July 2025. If your bill still shows it, raise it with your DISCO.
What is FPA in an electricity bill?
FPA, or fuel price adjustment, is a per-unit charge or refund for the difference between expected and actual fuel cost in an earlier month. October 2026 bills carry +Rs1.11 per unit for August 2026.
How do I know if I am a protected consumer?
Look at the 12-month history on your bill. If each of the last six months shows 200 units or less, you are protected. One month above 200 makes you non-protected for the following six months under the current rule.
Why did fixed charges appear on my bill even though I used few units?
Since February 2026, residential fixed charges are levied per kW of sanctioned load, including for protected consumers. Only lifeline consumers are exempt.
Do filers pay income tax on electricity bills?
No. The 7.5% withholding applies only to domestic consumers who are not on the Active Taxpayers List and whose bill is Rs25,000 or more. The CNIC registered on the connection must be the one on the ATL.
Are LESCO, IESCO and MEPCO rates different?
The base slab rates are the same under the uniform tariff. Bills can still differ because of units, sanctioned load and occasional company-specific adjustments.
What happens if I pay after the due date?
You pay the "payable after due date" amount, which includes a late payment surcharge of roughly 10% of the current charges on most domestic bills. Repeated non-payment can lead to disconnection.
How can I get a duplicate electricity bill?
Enter your 14-digit reference number on the PITC bill portal (bill.pitc.com.pk) and select your company, then print or save the bill as a PDF.
Last checked: October 2026
- IESCO tariff guide (S.R.O. 279(I)/2026 residential schedule)
- NEPRA tariff notifications, LESCO (S.R.O. 279, 459 and 953 of 2026)
- Ministry of Energy (Power Division): Electricity billing
- Dawn: Fixed power charge to be levied per kW (Feb 2026)
- Express Tribune: Rs1.11 FCA in October 2026 billing
- Express Tribune: QTA of Rs0.5194 for Sep–Nov 2026
- Profit: Electricity duty and PTV fee removed (July 2025)
- Profit: Rs3.23 debt surcharge to remain up to six years
- PkRevenue: Electricity withholding tax rates, tax year 2027
- The News: 200-unit subsidy to be replaced from January 2027