To budget for summer electricity bills in Pakistan, do three things. First, estimate your June–August bills from last year's bills or your AC usage. Second, save the difference from October to April in a "summer bill reserve", so the July bill comes out of savings rather than that month's salary. Third, track your meter's daily units so you know before the bill arrives whether you'll cross a slab. The most expensive line in 2026 is the 200-unit mark: under NEPRA's protected-consumer rules, crossing 200 units in a single month can raise your bills for the next six months.
This guide explains how 2026 domestic bills are calculated, why one extra unit can cost thousands, and a simple seasonal plan for LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, FESCO and other DISCO customers.
Rates in this guide reflect the domestic tariff notified through SRO 279(I)/2026 (12 February 2026), as summarised by an independent analysis of the SRO's tariff annex. Quarterly and fuel adjustments change bills month to month, so always check the rates printed on your own bill.
How Your Electricity Bill Is Calculated in 2026
A domestic bill has five main parts:
| Bill component | What it is |
|---|---|
| Energy charge | Units used × the per-unit rate for your slab |
| Fixed charge | A monthly charge per kW of sanctioned load, introduced in February 2026, rising with your slab |
| Adjustments | Fuel price adjustment (FPA) and quarterly adjustments, which change over time |
| Surcharges | Additional per-unit surcharges set by NEPRA |
| Sales tax | GST on the bill |
The two parts you control are the units you use and, through them, which slab you land in.
2026 domestic base rates (per unit, before taxes and adjustments)
| Consumer type and slab | Base rate (Rs./unit) | Fixed charge (Rs. per kW per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline, up to 50 units | 3.95 | 0 |
| Lifeline, 51–100 units | 7.74 | 0 |
| Protected, 1–100 units | 10.54 | 200 |
| Protected, 101–200 units | 13.01 | 300 |
| Non-protected, 1–100 units | 22.44 | 275 |
| Non-protected, 101–200 units | 28.91 | 300 |
| Non-protected, 201–300 units | 33.10 | 350 |
| Non-protected, 301–400 units | 36.46 | 400 |
| Non-protected, 401–500 units | 38.95 | 500 |
| Non-protected, 501–600 units | 40.22 | 675 |
| Non-protected, 601–700 units | 41.85 | 675 |
| Non-protected, above 700 units | 47.20 | 675 |
Source: SRO 279(I)/2026 tariff annex as modelled in an independent analysis. The same analysis reports that K-Electric's schedule carries the same consumer-end rates. Published figures for some slabs differ between sources, so use your bill as the final word.
Two rules make these rates bite harder than they look:
- Only protected consumers get the "one previous slab" benefit. A protected home using 150 units pays the lower rate on the first 100 units and the higher rate on the next 50.
- Non-protected consumers pay their slab's rate on every unit. A non-protected home using 201 units pays the 201–300 rate on all 201 units, not just the last one.
The 200-Unit Cliff: Why One Unit Can Cost Rs. 25,000
A home counts as "protected" when it has used 200 units or fewer in each of the last six months. Use 201 units once, and the home becomes non-protected for the next six bills, even if usage drops again.
Here's what that means in rupees, using the independent model of the 2026 tariff (1 kW sanctioned load, including surcharge and 18% GST, excluding fuel adjustments):
| Scenario | Approximate bill |
|---|---|
| 200 units, protected | About Rs. 3,470 |
| 201 units, now non-protected | About Rs. 9,030 |
| Next five months at 180 units, still non-protected | About Rs. 7,181 each |
| Same five months if still protected | About Rs. 3,130 each |
| Total extra cost of that one unit, over six bills | About Rs. 25,800 |
For a household that's usually under 200 units, May, June and September are the danger months: the first and last hot weeks, when the AC starts or ends. One careless week can cost a quarter of a lakh over the following half-year.
If your home already uses far more than 200 units in summer (most homes with an AC do), the cliff matters less. What matters then is how many slabs you climb.
How Many Units an AC Really Uses
Rough planning figures for a 1.5-ton AC (actual use depends on the model, its condition, room insulation and the thermostat setting):
| AC type | Typical average draw | 8 hours a night for 30 days |
|---|---|---|
| Inverter, set at 26°C | About 0.8–1.2 units per hour | About 190–290 units |
| Non-inverter (conventional) | About 1.5–2 units per hour | About 360–480 units |
Add fans, the fridge, lights, a water motor, an iron and a washing machine, often 150–250 units a month in summer, and a single AC home typically lands at 350–700 units. That's well into non-protected territory, where each slab is more expensive than the last.
Step 1: Estimate Your Summer Bills
The most accurate estimate is your own history. Collect last year's bills (most DISCO websites let you view bill history using your reference number) and write down each month's units and amount.
| Month | Units (last year) | Bill (last year) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 160 | Rs. 4,100 |
| April | 290 | Rs. 13,200 |
| June | 610 | Rs. 34,500 |
| July | 680 | Rs. 38,900 |
| August | 640 | Rs. 36,700 |
| October | 310 | Rs. 14,600 |
Then add 10–15% for tariff and adjustment changes. If you don't have old bills, estimate from your AC hours using the table above and multiply by the slab rates.
Step 2: Build a Summer Bill Reserve
The idea is simple: pay the summer bill in winter, a little at a time.
1. Add up a full year of bills. In the example below, a household's 12 bills total Rs. 2,19,800.
2. Find the monthly average and add a buffer. Rs. 2,19,800 ÷ 12 ≈ Rs. 18,300. Add about 10% for tariff and adjustment changes, and round: budget Rs. 20,000 a month.
3. Each month, budget the average. In months where the bill is lower than Rs. 20,000, move the difference to a separate savings account or wallet labelled "bijli reserve".
4. In summer, top up from the reserve. When July's bill is Rs. 38,900, you pay Rs. 20,000 from that month's budget and Rs. 18,900 from the reserve.
| Month | Bill | Budgeted | To reserve (+) or from reserve (−) | Reserve balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | Rs. 7,500 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 12,500 | Rs. 12,500 |
| December | Rs. 6,000 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 14,000 | Rs. 26,500 |
| January | Rs. 4,100 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 15,900 | Rs. 42,400 |
| February | Rs. 4,500 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 15,500 | Rs. 57,900 |
| March | Rs. 7,800 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 12,200 | Rs. 70,100 |
| April | Rs. 13,200 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 6,800 | Rs. 76,900 |
| May | Rs. 24,000 | Rs. 20,000 | −Rs. 4,000 | Rs. 72,900 |
| June | Rs. 34,500 | Rs. 20,000 | −Rs. 14,500 | Rs. 58,400 |
| July | Rs. 38,900 | Rs. 20,000 | −Rs. 18,900 | Rs. 39,500 |
| August | Rs. 36,700 | Rs. 20,000 | −Rs. 16,700 | Rs. 22,800 |
| September | Rs. 28,000 | Rs. 20,000 | −Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 14,800 |
| October | Rs. 14,600 | Rs. 20,000 | +Rs. 5,400 | Rs. 20,200 |
The Rs. 20,200 left in October is the buffer, which carries into next year. Starting in November means the reserve is ready before the heat. If you're starting later, say in March, increase the monthly set-aside.
Step 3: Track Daily Units, Not Just the Monthly Bill
By the time the bill arrives, it's too late to change it. Reading your meter takes 30 seconds and tells you where you're heading.
How to do it:
- Read the meter on the day your billing cycle starts (the reading date is printed on your bill).
- Read it again at the same time each day or every few days.
- Subtract to get units used so far, and divide by the number of days.
- Multiply by the days in the cycle to forecast the month.
Set a daily unit budget. If you want to stay under 300 units in a 30-day cycle, your daily budget is 10 units. If you're averaging 13 a day by day 10, you know you'll land near 390. That's the moment to raise the thermostat, cut an AC hour, or move the iron and washing machine to fewer days.
For households hovering around 200 units in spring and autumn, a daily budget of 6.5 units protects your protected status.
Step 4: Cut Units Where It Counts
| Change | Typical effect |
|---|---|
| Set the AC to 26°C instead of 20–22°C | Often a 15–25% cut in AC consumption |
| Use the AC timer or sleep mode | Saves 1–2 hours of full running each night |
| Service the AC and clean filters before summer | Restores lost efficiency |
| Replace an old non-inverter AC with an inverter model | Can roughly halve AC units, at a significant upfront cost |
| Shade west-facing windows, use curtains | Less heat to remove in the evening |
| Run the water motor, iron and washing machine on fewer days | Cuts peaks that push you into the next slab |
| Install solar (if you can afford it) | The largest long-term cut, but a major investment |
How to Track Electricity in Your Monthly Budget on WhatsApp
HissabAI won't read your meter, but it keeps the money side of your bijli plan organised:
| You type | What it does |
|---|---|
| LESCO bill 34500 | Logs the bill under utilities |
| KE bill 18200 | Same for K-Electric customers |
| bijli reserve savings 12500 | Records the reserve contribution as savings |
| report | Shows how much of this month's spending went on utilities |
At year-end, your reports show your real 12-month electricity total, which is the number you need for next year's reserve. For a full household plan, see our cost of living guides for Lahore and Karachi.
Plan for summer bills before they arrive. Log every bijli bill and reserve deposit on WhatsApp. 7-day free trial, no app download. Start here → wa.me/message/4FXU5JGJ52SWM1
What is a protected electricity consumer in Pakistan?
A protected domestic consumer is a household that has used 200 units or fewer in each of the last six months. Protected consumers pay much lower per-unit rates and get the benefit of one previous slab. Using more than 200 units in any month makes the home non-protected for the next six bills.
Why did my electricity bill jump so much in summer?
Summer bills jump for two reasons: AC use multiplies the units you consume, and higher consumption pushes you into higher slabs, where every unit is charged at a higher rate for non-protected consumers. Crossing 200 units can also end protected status for six months, and fixed charges per kW rise with your slab.
How can I save money on my summer electricity bill?
Set ACs to 26°C and use timers, service ACs before summer, and spread heavy appliances across fewer days. Track your meter reading every few days against a daily unit budget, so you know mid-month whether you're about to cross a slab. Saving a summer reserve from October to April spreads the cost across the year.
How do I estimate my electricity bill before it comes?
Read your meter at the start of the billing cycle and again every few days. Divide units used by the days passed to get a daily average, multiply by the cycle length to forecast the month, then apply your slab rate plus fixed charge and taxes. Your previous bills show the rates and taxes that apply to your connection.
Do K-Electric customers pay the same slab rates as LESCO?
Under the 2026 notified tariff, K-Electric's consumer-end domestic rates are reported to match those of the other DISCOs, though adjustments and the exact charges on your bill can differ. Check the rates printed on your own K-Electric bill and the latest NEPRA notifications.
Start Your Summer Bill Plan Now
October is the best month to start: bills are falling and the reserve has the whole winter to grow. Save +92 371 4341321 on WhatsApp as "HissabAI" and send "Hi" for a 7-day free trial. Then log this month's bill and your first reserve contribution. Next July, the bill will hurt a lot less.
Bijli bills, gas, groceries and savings in one WhatsApp chat. Start free → wa.me/message/4FXU5JGJ52SWM1
Also read: Karachi Household Monthly Expenses Breakdown | How to Build an Emergency Fund in Pakistan | Monthly Budget Examples by Salary