Electricity Bill in Pakistan Explained: Units, Slabs, FPA & Protected Status
Your electricity bill is mainly units consumed × your slab rate, plus fuel price adjustment (FPA), quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA), fixed charges and 18% GST. Households that used 200 units or less in each of the last six months are "protected" and pay much lower rates. The PTV fee and electricity duty were removed from bills in July 2025.
- Protected status = 200 units or less in each of the previous 6 months.
- Crossing 200 units once removes protected rates for 6 months.
- FPA is set monthly by NEPRA and can be positive or negative.
- GST is 18%; PTV fee and electricity duty were removed from July 2025.
The main parts of your bill
| Line on bill | What it means |
|---|---|
| Units consumed | Present reading − previous reading |
| Cost of electricity | Units × slab rate (NEPRA-approved tariff) |
| FPA / F.C. surcharge | Fuel price adjustment for a past month |
| QTA | Quarterly tariff adjustment per unit |
| Fixed charges | Based on connection type/consumption |
| GST | 18% sales tax |
| Income tax | Advance tax on larger bills for non-filers |
Protected vs unprotected consumers
Residential consumers who stayed at or under 200 units every month for the past six months are billed on protected slabs. The jump to unprotected slabs is steep, so a single high month in summer can raise your bills for half a year. Check the consumption history printed on your bill before running heavy appliances near the limit.
Estimate your bill
Using this site's approximate tariffs, 150 units for a protected home comes to about Rs. 4,075, while 300 units for an unprotected home comes to about Rs. 11,841. Use the Bill Calculator with your own units for an estimate, and remember FPA and tariffs change frequently.
10 practical ways to reduce your bill
- Keep monthly use at or below 200 units if you are close to it.
- Switch every bulb to LED.
- Use an inverter AC and set it at 26°C with a ceiling fan.
- Service AC filters every month in summer.
- Replace old fans with DC/inverter fans.
- Switch off geysers and water dispensers when not needed.
- Run washing machines and irons in off-peak hours if you have a TOU meter.
- Unplug chargers and TVs at the wall.
- Check your meter reading against the bill photo every month.
- Consider rooftop solar — but check the latest net-billing rules first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PTV fee still charged on electricity bills?
No. The government removed the Rs. 35 PTV fee from electricity bills from July 2025, along with the provincial electricity duty.
How do I become a protected consumer again?
Keep consumption at or below 200 units for six consecutive months.
Written and fact-checked by the PakCalc editorial team against the sources below. Rules change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.