ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has announced a reduction of 93 paisa per unit in electricity tariffs after issuing a notification applicable to consumers across Pakistan, including Karachi.
Fuel cost adjustment brings January relief
According to the notification, Nepra approved the cut under fuel cost adjustment for November, and authorities will pass the relief on to consumers through their January electricity bills. The regulator stated that the reduction applies to all consumer categories nationwide. However, it clarified that lifeline consumers will not receive the benefit.
The decision follows a request by the Central Power Purchasing Agency, which last week sought a refund of Rs0.72 per unit to consumers in January bills. Officials said that move could have provided relief exceeding Rs5.6 billion. Meanwhile, Nepra continues to review fuel price adjustments on a monthly basis to reflect fluctuations in global fuel prices and electricity generation costs. The authority then transfers the financial impact to consumers in subsequent billing cycles.
New average base tariff set for 2026
Separately, Nepra has announced the new average base electricity tariff for the January–December 2026 period, fixing it at Rs33.38 per unit. The authority said the move offers modest relief after years of sustained tariff hikes.
Notably, the government has shifted tariff determination from a fiscal-year model to a calendar-year framework. As a result, the rebased consumer-end tariff will take effect from January 1, 2026. Nepra noted that the new rate is 62 paisa lower than the tariff applicable during July–December 2025, while the average tariff for the 2025–26 fiscal year stood at Rs34 per unit.
However, the regulator acknowledged that the newly notified base tariff remains Rs1.79 per unit higher than the current base rate of Rs31.59 per unit. Nepra estimated the total financial requirement of distribution companies for 2026 at Rs3,379 billion to ensure full cost recovery.
