How to Calculate Your Electricity Bill After NEPRA’s Tariff Hike?

The electricity tariff in Pakistan has increased by Rs4.96 per unit for the fiscal year 2023-24 by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). This hike is in line with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country is facing a debt crisis.

The new tariff will affect the power consumers across different slabs of consumption. This base tariff will now be almost Rs30 per unit, up from Rs24 per unit. Moreover, the peak hours of electricity usage have extended by two hours, from 5 pm to 11 pm, which will also increase the bill amount.

Here is a guide on how to calculate your electricity bill after the tariff hike and what are the factors that influence it.

• The base tariff is the rate per unit of electricity that charged by NEPRA. It varies according to the slab of consumption. The higher the consumption, the higher the base tariff.
• The fuel adjustment charges (FAC) are the additional charges that are levied by NEPRA to adjust for fluctuations in fuel prices. They calculated on a monthly basis and added to the base tariff.
• The taxes and surcharges are the government levies that imposed on electricity bills. They include GST, TV fee, NJS surcharge, FC surcharge, and others. They calculated as a percentage of the base tariff and FAC.
• The peak hours are the hours when the electricity demand is high and the supply is low. During these hours, NEPRA charges a higher rate per unit of electricity than normal hours. The peak hours have increased from 6 pm to 10 pm to 5 pm to 11 pm from July 1, 2023.

To calculate your electricity bill, you need to multiply your units of consumption with the base tariff, add the FAC, and then add the taxes and surcharges. You also need to check if your consumption falls in the peak hours or not. If yes, then you need to multiply your peak hour units with the peak hour rate and add it to your bill.

Here is a table showing the base tariff and peak hour rate for different slabs of consumption:

For example, if you consume 300 units in a month, out of which 100 units are in peak hours, then your bill will calculated as follows:

• Base tariff = 300 x 26.41 = Rs7,923
• FAC = Rs0 (assuming no change in fuel prices)
• Taxes and surcharges = Rs7,923 x 0.2 = Rs1,585 (assuming 20% of base tariff and FAC)
• Peak hour charges = 100 x (31.69 – 26.41) = Rs528
• Total bill = Rs7,923 + Rs0 + Rs1,585 + Rs528 = Rs10,036

Therefore, your electricity bill for July 2023 will be Rs10,036.

This electricity bill calculator can help you estimate your bill based on your consumption and slab. You can also use it to compare your bill before and after the tariff hike and see how much difference it makes.

The tariff hike expected to generate additional revenue of Rs480 billion for NEPRA and help reduce the circular debt of the power sector. However, it will also put a burden on consumers who are already facing inflation and economic challenges due to the pandemic.