Electricity Bills to Rise in November as NEPRA Adds Rs2.37 Per Unit Fuel Charge

Electricity bills in Pakistan are about to go up. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved an extra charge of Rs2.37 per unit on electricity, and it will appear in November bills across the country.

The charge is a fuel cost adjustment for power generated in September. It applies to customers of all power distribution companies, including K-Electric in Karachi. Only a small group of consumers — lifeline users, electric vehicle charging stations and prepaid tariff customers — will not have to pay it.

For an average household, the extra amount is not small. A family that used 300 units of electricity in September will pay about Rs710 more. A household that used 500 units will pay about Rs1,184 extra. The charge will be shown as a separate line on the bill, so it will be easy to spot.

What NEPRA Has Decided

NEPRA approved a fuel charges adjustment (FCA) of exactly Rs2.3673 per unit for September 2026. The decision was issued as S.R.O. 2094(I)/2026, and the formal notification confirming it was issued on 7 November.

The regulator approved less than what the power companies had asked for. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G), which buys electricity from power plants on behalf of the distribution companies, had requested an increase of Rs2.5624 per unit. NEPRA cut that request by about Rs0.20 per unit before approving it.

Through this adjustment, the distribution companies are expected to recover around Rs25 billion from consumers. The money covers the extra cost of the fuel used to generate electricity in September.

The charge is calculated on the number of units a consumer used in September 2026, not on November’s usage. That is why it is appearing in November bills: the regulator needs time to check the fuel cost data, hold a hearing and issue a decision before the amount can be added to a bill.

What Is a Fuel Cost Adjustment?

A fuel cost adjustment, often shortened to FCA, is one of the most confusing lines on a Pakistani electricity bill. In simple terms, it is the difference between what power plants actually spent on fuel in a given month and the fuel cost that was already built into the electricity tariff.

Here is how it works. When NEPRA sets the electricity tariff, it assumes a certain fuel cost — called the reference fuel cost. Power plants then generate electricity using furnace oil, gas, coal and other fuels. If the actual fuel cost turns out to be higher than the reference cost, consumers pay the difference through the FCA. If the actual cost is lower, consumers get a refund through a negative adjustment.

The adjustment always comes two months late. September’s fuel costs are charged in November bills, October’s fuel costs will be charged in December bills, and so on. This lag exists because the CPPA has to collect fuel cost data from every power plant, NEPRA has to verify it, and a public hearing has to be held before the final figure is approved.

The FCA does not change the base electricity tariff. It is a one-month charge tied to one month’s fuel costs. That is an important distinction: the November increase is not a permanent rise in the price of electricity, but it is still real money that consumers must pay.

Why Did Fuel Cost Rise in September?

According to NEPRA, the actual fuel cost of electricity in September was Rs9.82 per unit, while the reference fuel cost built into the tariff was only Rs7.45 per unit. The gap of Rs2.37 per unit is what consumers will now pay.

The main reason for the gap was a change in how electricity was generated in September. Power plants used more imported coal and less hydel (water-powered) and RLNG (imported liquefied natural gas) electricity than planned. Imported coal is expensive, and when cheap hydel power makes up a smaller share of the total, the average cost of generating each unit goes up.

NEPRA also noted that it provisionally accepted a Rs10.617 billion adjustment linked to an arrangement under which indigenous gas was supplied to RLNG plants at a set price, but it has asked the CPPA to provide plant-by-plant details to support that figure. The regulator said future reconciliations could still change monthly fuel charges.

This is not the first time fuel costs have pushed bills up this year. NEPRA has approved a fuel charge for every month of 2026 so far, and it has cut the CPPA’s request in every case. The September figure is, however, one of the larger ones — a sign of how expensive power generation became as the generation mix shifted.

How Much Extra Will You Pay?

The extra charge depends entirely on how many units of electricity you used in September 2026. The more units you used, the more you pay. Here is what the charge looks like for different levels of usage:

• 100 units: about Rs237 extra
• 200 units: about Rs473 extra
• 300 units: about Rs710 extra
• 500 units: about Rs1,184 extra
• 1,000 units: about Rs2,367 extra

These figures are calculated by multiplying the units used by Rs2.3673. Your actual bill will show the exact amount, calculated on your September consumption.

The adjustment applies to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers of all distribution companies, including K-Electric. It also applies to consumers who benefit from the Incremental Consumption Package — the special scheme that offers cheaper rates for extra electricity use.

There are only three exemptions. Lifeline consumers — the poorest households that use very little electricity — do not have to pay the charge. Electric vehicle charging stations are also exempt, as are consumers on prepaid tariffs. Everyone else will see the extra line on their November bill.

If your November bill was issued before the notification, the charge may be added to your December bill instead, according to the regulator’s order.

Industry Pays More Too

In a separate decision announced on 6 November, NEPRA also raised the electricity rate for industrial and private agricultural consumers under the special Incremental Support Package. The rate has gone up from Rs22.98 to Rs25.30 per unit — an increase of Rs2.32 per unit, or about 10%.

The new rate applies from the November 2026 billing month. It covers eligible industrial and private agricultural consumers of the former WAPDA distribution companies and K-Electric.

The decision was not unanimous. Two members of the regulator opposed the increase, but the majority approved it. The Incremental Support Package was introduced to encourage factories and farms to use more electricity from the national grid by offering them a discounted rate for extra consumption. The Rs25.30 rate applies only to that extra, incremental consumption — it is not a new standard tariff for all industrial users.

For industry, the timing is difficult. Factories are already dealing with high energy costs, and a higher electricity rate adds to the cost of production. That cost often finds its way into the prices of goods, which means the increase could eventually affect ordinary shoppers as well.

More Pressure May Be Coming

The November fuel adjustment may not be the last increase consumers face. The distribution companies have separately asked NEPRA for a quarterly tariff adjustment of Rs23.33 billion for the July to September period. NEPRA is scheduled to hear that request on 17 November. If approved, it would add further charges to future bills.

This comes at a time when households are already stretched. Power bills may rise again as distribution companies seek a Rs23.33 billion tariff hike for July to September — a request that is still pending before the regulator.

There is, however, one piece of good news for consumers this week. Petrol prices fell to Rs346 a litre in Pakistan after a week of cuts worth Rs31.91. So while filling a car has become cheaper, running a home on electricity has become more expensive — a mixed picture for household budgets.

The Power Division had already warned that winter power bills could carry a fuel charge two to three times higher than usual, as demand patterns and fuel costs change in the colder months. The November adjustment is an early sign of that pressure.

What You Can Do About Your Bill

You cannot avoid the November fuel adjustment — it is based on electricity you already used in September. But there are practical steps you can take to keep future bills under control:

Check your bill carefully. Look for the fuel cost adjustment line on your November bill and compare the units it is charged on with your September consumption. If the units do not match your September meter reading, raise the issue with your distribution company.

Use less electricity in the coming months. Because the FCA is charged two months late, the electricity you save now will reduce your bill in two months’ time. Switching off lights and fans in empty rooms, using energy-efficient LED bulbs and running heavy appliances like water pumps and washing machines during off-peak hours can all help.

Check if you qualify for the lifeline tariff. Households that use very little electricity pay a lower rate and are exempt from the fuel adjustment. If your usage is low, make sure your connection is registered in the correct category.

Keep an eye on NEPRA’s hearings. The regulator holds public hearings before approving fuel adjustments and quarterly tariff changes. Consumer groups and individuals can take part and raise objections — and NEPRA has a record of cutting the amounts requested by the power companies, as it did again this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my November bill higher than my October bill?

Your November bill includes a fuel cost adjustment of Rs2.37 per unit for electricity generated in September. The adjustment is calculated on the units you used in September and added to your November bill as a separate line.

What is a fuel cost adjustment?

It is the difference between the actual cost of fuel used to generate electricity in a month and the fuel cost already assumed in the tariff. When fuel costs more than expected, consumers pay the difference. When it costs less, consumers get a refund.

Is this a permanent increase in the electricity tariff?

No. The Rs2.37 per unit charge is a one-month adjustment linked to September’s fuel costs. It does not change the base tariff. However, a new fuel adjustment is calculated every month, so bills can go up or down depending on fuel costs.

Who does not have to pay the Rs2.37 charge?

Lifeline consumers, electric vehicle charging stations and consumers on prepaid tariffs are exempt. Everyone else, including K-Electric customers and consumers on the Incremental Consumption Package, must pay it.

Why did NEPRA approve Rs2.37 when the power companies asked for Rs2.56?

The CPPA had requested Rs2.5624 per unit. After reviewing the fuel cost data, NEPRA reduced some claims and approved Rs2.3673 per unit instead — about Rs0.20 less than requested.

Will bills go up again in December?

Possibly. October’s fuel costs will be charged in December bills, and the distribution companies are also seeking a Rs23.33 billion quarterly tariff adjustment for July to September, which NEPRA will hear on 17 November.

Conclusion

November’s electricity bills will be higher for almost every consumer in Pakistan. NEPRA’s Rs2.37 per unit fuel adjustment — approved at Rs2.3673, below the Rs2.5624 requested — will add around Rs25 billion to what consumers pay, because September’s power cost more to generate than the tariff assumed.

The charge is a one-month adjustment, not a permanent tariff increase, and the poorest consumers are exempt. But it arrives alongside a separate rise in industrial power rates and a pending Rs23.33 billion quarterly adjustment request, so the pressure on bills is unlikely to ease soon.

For households, the practical lesson is simple: check the fuel adjustment line on your November bill, make sure it matches your September usage, and use electricity carefully now — because the units you save today will show up as savings on a bill two months from now.

Sources

• Bloom Pakistan, “Electricity Bills Set to Rise as NEPRA Approves Rs. 2.37 Per Unit Additional Charge”, 7 November 2026: https://bloompakistan.com/electricity-bills-set-to-rise-as-nepra-approves-rs-2-37-per-unit-additional-charge/
• UrduPro, report on the NEPRA Rs2.37 fuel adjustment in November bills: https://urdupro.info/nepra-rs2-37-fuel-adjustment-november-bills/
• Azaad Digital, “Electricity bills to rise in November as NEPRA announces price hike”: https://azaaddigital.com/electricity-bills-to-rise-in-november-as-nepra-announces-price-hike/
• PakEra, background on the monthly fuel cost adjustment: https://pakera.pk/fca-electricity-bill-2026-every-month/
• Particle News, report on NEPRA approving the Rs2.3673/kWh fuel charge for September: https://particle.news/story/nepra-approves-rs23673kwh-fuel-charge-for-september
• Metro53, report on electricity prices hiked by Rs2.37 per unit: https://en.metro53.com/news/1372/another-burden-on-the-public-after-expensive-lpg-electricity-prices-hiked-by-rs-2-37-per-unit
• Info-Matix, report on NEPRA raising the industrial power package rate to Rs25.30 per unit: https://info-matix.com/nepra-raises-industrial-power-package-rate-to-rs25-30-per-unit/

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.