Quick answer: IESCO's current consumer tariff is S.R.O. 279(I)/2026 (February 2026), published on IESCO's Tariff Guide. It was issued after NEPRA's tariff rationalization decision of 11 February 2026. For a normal home (sanctioned load up to 5 kW), the unit price ranges from Rs 3.95 (lifeline) to Rs 47.20 (unprotected, above 700 units), plus a fixed charge per kW, adjustments and taxes.
Below are the residential rates, the protected vs unprotected rule ("200 unit wala rule"), and worked examples so you can do an "IESCO bill calculator" estimate yourself. We have deliberately not built an automatic calculator. A calculator that ignored your slab history, sanctioned load, adjustments and taxes would give wrong answers, so it is better to show you the exact method.
IESCO residential tariff 2026 (A-1, sanctioned load up to 5 kW)
| Category / units per month | Fixed charge (Rs per kW per month) | Unit price (Rs per kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Protected | ||
| Lifeline: up to 50 units | None | 3.95 |
| Lifeline: 1–100 units | None | 7.74 |
| 1–100 units | 200 | 10.54 |
| 101–200 units | 300 | 13.01 |
| Unprotected | ||
| 1–100 units | 275 | 22.44 |
| 101–200 units | 300 | 28.91 |
| 201–300 units | 350 | 33.10 |
| 301–400 units | 400 | 36.46 |
| 401–500 units | 500 | 38.95 |
| 501–600 units | 675 | 40.22 |
| 601–700 units | 675 | 41.85 |
| Above 700 units | 675 | 47.20 |
Source: IESCO Tariff Guide, S.R.O. No. 279(I)/2026, February 2026 (checked 9 October 2026).
Homes with 5 kW or more, and prepaid meters
- Time of Use (ToU), sanctioned load 5 kW and above: fixed charge Rs 675 per kW; peak Rs 46.85 and off-peak Rs 34.53 per unit. The fixed charge is based on 50% of sanctioned load or MDI, whichever is higher.
- Pre-paid residential: fixed charge Rs 675 per kW; Rs 42.12 per unit.
Protected vs unprotected: the 200-unit rule
A protected consumer is a non-ToU residential consumer who has used 200 units or less in each of the last 6 months. This definition comes from NEPRA's tariff determinations and the federal government's policy guidelines.
- If even one of your previous six months went above 200 units, you are billed at unprotected rates.
- Protected status is regained only after six straight months at or below 200 units.
- Homes with 5 kW or more sanctioned load are on ToU billing, so they are not protected.
- Lifeline is a separate, cheaper category for very small single-phase connections (sanctioned load up to 1 kW) with low consumption.
Protected consumers may also be asked to verify through the QR code printed on the bill. See IESCO bill QR code subsidy registration.
Slab benefit: who gets it
The tariff notes say only protected residential consumers get the benefit of one previous slab. Lifeline consumers get no slab benefit. In practice:
- Protected, 101–200 units: the first 100 units are charged at Rs 10.54 and the rest at Rs 13.01.
- Unprotected: there is no previous-slab benefit, so all units are charged at the rate of the slab you reach. For example, 250 units are all charged at Rs 33.10.
How to calculate your IESCO bill (step by step)
- Find your units for the month on your bill (current reading minus previous reading).
- Check your status: look at the last six months in the bill history. If all six are 200 or below, use the protected rates; otherwise use the unprotected rates.
- Energy charge: units × the unit price, using the slab rules above.
- Fixed charge: rupees per kW × your sanctioned load (printed on your bill).
- Add adjustments, duties and taxes as shown on your bill (see below).
Example 1: protected home, 150 units, 1 kW load
- First 100 units × Rs 10.54 = Rs 1,054.00
- Next 50 units × Rs 13.01 = Rs 650.50
- Fixed charge: Rs 300 × 1 kW = Rs 300.00
- Before adjustments and taxes: Rs 2,004.50
Example 2: unprotected home, 250 units, 3 kW load
- 250 units × Rs 33.10 = Rs 8,275.00
- Fixed charge: Rs 350 × 3 kW = Rs 1,050.00
- Before adjustments and taxes: Rs 9,325.00
Example 3: the same 150 units, but unprotected
- 150 units × Rs 28.91 = Rs 4,336.50
- Fixed charge: Rs 300 × 1 kW = Rs 300.00
- Before adjustments and taxes: Rs 4,636.50, more than double Example 1 for the same units.
That gap is why a single high-use month (for example, running an AC in June) can make bills expensive for the next six months.
What else is added to your bill
- Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA): a monthly per-unit adjustment set by NEPRA, usually billed two months later. For example, NEPRA allowed +Rs 2.5182/unit for July 2026, charged in September 2026 bills.
- Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA): for June–August 2026 it was −Rs 1.9857/unit, notified as S.R.O. 953(I)/2026.
- Electricity duty, sales tax and other levies as printed on the bill.
- Minimum charge: where fixed charges do not apply, A-1 has a minimum monthly charge of Rs 75 (single phase) or Rs 150 (three phase).
How some adjustments apply to protected and lifeline consumers can differ, so always compare your estimate with the line items on your bill. Read more about fixed charges in electricity bill fixed monthly charges explained.
Commercial (A-2) rates, briefly
- Sanctioned load under 5 kW: Rs 1,000 per consumer per month + Rs 37.44 per unit.
- 5 kW and above: Rs 1,250 per kW + Rs 39.76 per unit (fixed charge on 25% of sanctioned load or MDI, whichever is higher).
- ToU: peak Rs 43.82, off-peak Rs 35.15.
Tips to stay protected and lower the bill
- Track units monthly. Your IESCO online bill shows each month's consumption.
- Spread heavy use across months where you can, so no month goes above 200 units.
- Check that your sanctioned load is right, because fixed charges are per kW.
- See how to reduce your electricity bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IESCO unit price in 2026?
Under S.R.O. 279(I)/2026 (February 2026), IESCO residential rates for sanctioned load up to 5 kW range from Rs 3.95 per unit (lifeline, up to 50 units) to Rs 47.20 per unit (unprotected, above 700 units), before fuel/quarterly adjustments and taxes.
Who is a protected consumer in IESCO?
A non-ToU residential consumer whose consumption has stayed at or below 200 units in each of the last 6 months. If any one of those months went above 200 units, the consumer is billed at unprotected rates.
How many units make an IESCO bill expensive?
Crossing 200 units is the biggest jump: it can end protected status, and unprotected rates apply to all units at the slab reached. For example, 201 to 300 unprotected units cost Rs 33.10 per unit, compared with Rs 13.01 for protected 101 to 200 units.
Are fixed charges on IESCO bills per kW?
Yes. For residential (A-1) consumers, the fixed charge in the tariff is rupees per kW of sanctioned load per month, for example Rs 300 per kW for unprotected 101 to 200 units. Lifeline consumers pay no fixed charge. Time-of-use domestic consumers are charged on 50% of sanctioned load or MDI, whichever is higher.
Why doesn't my calculation match my bill exactly?
The bill adds fuel charges adjustment (FCA), quarterly adjustment (QTA), electricity duty, sales tax and other levies, and may include arrears or deferred amounts. Use the tariff to understand the energy and fixed charge part, then compare with the line items on your bill.
Is there an official IESCO bill calculator?
We are not aware of an official IESCO calculator. The official reference is the IESCO Tariff Guide on iesco.com.pk, which reproduces the notified tariff.
