Updated: July 2026
The IESCO per unit price in 2026 ranges from about Rs 3.95 per unit on the lowest lifeline slab to around Rs 48.84 per unit on the highest residential slab, under NEPRA’s tariff for the 2025-26 financial year (effective from 1 July 2025 and still in force as of July 2026). What you actually pay per unit depends on how many units you use in the month and whether you are a protected or non-protected consumer. The rate is not one flat number; it steps up as your usage crosses each slab.
That single fact catches most people off guard. Many households assume there is one iesco unit rate today, then get surprised when the bill jumps. If you only want your current amount due, you can check your IESCO bill online in a few seconds. This guide breaks down every slab, shows you how to work out your own bill from units, and explains the extra charges that ride on top of the basic rate.
Once you know what you owe, you can settle it through our guide on IESCO bill payment online. This page is about the price behind that number, so you understand why your bijli ka bill is what it is.
IESCO Electricity Rates 2026
Here is the residential tariff structure for IESCO in 2026. These figures come from NEPRA’s FY 2025-26 rebasing decision (base rates effective 1 July 2025, reflected in NEPRA’s notifications through early 2026). Treat the “per unit” figure as the energy rate only, before taxes and monthly adjustments.
| Monthly units | Category | Rate (Rs/unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 50 | Lifeline | 3.95 |
| 51 to 100 | Lifeline | 7.74 |
| 1 to 100 | Protected | 10.54 |
| 101 to 200 | Protected | 13.01 |
| 1 to 100 | Non-protected | around 24 (confirm on your bill) |
| 101 to 200 | Non-protected | around 30 (confirm on your bill) |
| 201 to 300 | Non-protected | 34.26 |
| 301 to 400 | Non-protected | 39.15 |
| 401 to 500 | Non-protected | 41.36 |
| 501 to 600 | Non-protected | 42.78 |
| 601 to 700 | Non-protected | 43.92 |
| Above 700 | Non-protected | 48.84 |
A quick word on protected versus non-protected, because it changes your rate the most.
You are a protected consumer if your usage has stayed at 200 units or less in each of the last six months. Protected households get the subsidised rates above. If you cross 200 units in any single month, you become non-protected, and you stay on the higher rates for the next six months. That switch alone can more than double the per-unit cost, so the 200-unit line is worth watching.
Lifeline rates are for the lowest users, up to 100 units, and are the cheapest slab of all. The exact non-protected rates for the 1-100 and 101-200 slabs move a little with each NEPRA adjustment, so we have marked them “confirm on your bill” rather than print a number that might be slightly off for your billing month.
How to Calculate Your IESCO Bill from Units
You do not need an iesco bill calculator to get a rough figure. The basic method is simple once you know the slabs.
- Find your units consumed this month. It is printed on your bill, near the meter reading section.
- Decide if you are protected or non-protected, based on your last six months of usage.
- Apply the slab rate for your total units. For most non-protected slabs, IESCO charges your whole consumption at the rate for the slab you land in. This differs from a pure telescopic system, so check your bill’s tariff line.
- Multiply units by the rate to get the energy cost.
- Add the extra charges (FPA, taxes, duty, TV fee, and any fixed or meter charges).
Worked example for 300 units (approximate)
Say you are a non-protected household that used 300 units this month. This is a rough estimate to show the shape of the bill, not an exact figure.
- Energy cost: 300 units x Rs 34.26 = about Rs 10,278
- Fuel price adjustment (FPA): small in mid-2026, around Rs 0.34/unit in July 2026, so roughly 300 x 0.34 = Rs 102 (this swings month to month)
- Electricity duty (around 1.5% of energy cost): about Rs 154
- GST at 18% on energy and charges: roughly Rs 1,900
- TV licence fee: Rs 35
- Rounding and small fixed items: a few rupees
Add those up and the bill lands somewhere around Rs 12,400 to Rs 12,600. Your real bill will differ with the exact FPA, any quarterly adjustment, and whether meter rent applies. Treat this only as a ballpark to sanity-check your printed total.
Extra Charges on Your Bill
The per-unit rate is only the start. Several add-ons sit on top, and together they can be a big slice of the total. Here is what each one means.
Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA). This reflects the actual cost of fuel used to make electricity a couple of months earlier, versus the reference cost already built into your tariff. It can be positive or negative, and it has ranged from about minus Rs 3 to plus Rs 8 per unit in recent cycles. In July 2026 it was small, around Rs 0.34 per unit.
Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA). Every three months NEPRA reviews capacity and other costs and passes an adjustment to consumers. It appears as a separate line and can add to or reduce your bill for a set number of months.
Electricity Duty. A provincial charge, usually a small percentage of your energy cost.
GST. General Sales Tax at 18%, applied to the energy charges and most other line items. This is often the single largest add-on.
TV Licence Fee. A flat monthly fee, commonly Rs 35 for domestic connections, collected on behalf of PTV.
Meter Rent and Fixed Charges. Some connections carry a small meter rent, and higher slabs may carry a fixed monthly charge. Check your own bill, as these vary by connection type.
Why Did My IESCO Bill Increase This Month?
A higher bill usually comes down to one of three things, and often a mix.
FPA swings. If fuel costs rose a couple of months ago, the FPA line goes up and adds to every unit you used. A jump of even Rs 2-3 per unit adds up fast on a few hundred units.
A slab jump. This is the big one. If you crept from 195 units last month to 210 this month, you may have crossed into non-protected territory. Your whole consumption then gets billed at a much higher rate, so a small rise in units can cause a large rise in rupees. Watching the slab boundary is the most useful habit for controlling your bijli ka bill.
Peak-hour (TOU) usage. If you are on a time-of-use meter, running heavy appliances during peak evening hours costs far more per unit than off-peak. A month with heavy evening AC use shows up sharply.
If none of these fit, compare your units and rate line to last month’s bill side by side. The difference is almost always in the units, the slab, or the FPA. You can also check any bijli bill online to compare month to month.
IESCO Peak and Off-Peak (TOU) Timings
Some IESCO connections, especially larger domestic and commercial ones, are on a Time-of-Use (TOU) meter. These have two rates: a higher peak rate and a lower off-peak rate.
As of 2026, TOU domestic rates run around Rs 48 per unit at peak and Rs 41.68 per unit off-peak, based on NEPRA’s tariff schedule. Peak hours fall in the evening when demand is highest, typically around 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, shifting slightly by season. In peak summer months (roughly June to August) the window is often set to 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Everything outside the peak window is off-peak and cheaper.
The takeaway is simple: if you are on a TOU meter, moving heavy loads out of the evening peak saves real money. Confirm your exact peak window on your bill, since timings can be updated by NEPRA.
How to Lower Your IESCO Bill
You cannot change the tariff, but you can change how many units you use and when. Here are practical, specific ways to bring the number down.
- Stay under the 200-unit line if you are close. If you usually sit near 190-210 units, trimming a little to stay protected can cut your per-unit rate by more than half. This is the highest-value move for borderline households.
- Shift heavy loads off-peak. Run the washing machine, iron, and water pump before 6:30 PM or after the peak window ends. On a TOU meter this directly lowers the rate you pay.
- Set the AC to 26°C. Each degree lower pushes the compressor harder. Twenty-six degrees with a fan is comfortable for most rooms and uses far less power than 20-22°C.
- Service the AC and clean the filters. A dirty filter or low gas makes the unit run longer for the same cooling, quietly adding units.
- Switch to LED and inverter appliances. Inverter ACs and fridges draw much less than older fixed-speed models, especially over long summer hours.
- Kill standby loads. TVs, chargers, and set-top boxes left on standby add units all month. A switchable extension board makes it easy to cut them at night.
- Consider solar with net metering. If your bills stay high, rooftop solar with net metering lets you offset daytime units and even export surplus. It is a bigger upfront step, but it changes the maths for heavy users.
FAQs
What is the IESCO per unit price in 2026?
For 2026, IESCO residential rates run from about Rs 3.95 per unit on the lowest lifeline slab up to around Rs 48.84 per unit on the highest slab, under NEPRA’s FY 2025-26 tariff. Your rate depends on your monthly units and your protected or non-protected status. Always confirm the exact figure on your latest bill.
What is the difference between protected and non-protected rates?
Protected consumers use 200 units or less each month across six months and pay lower, subsidised rates. If you cross 200 units in any month, you become non-protected for the next six months and pay much higher per-unit rates. This is why a small rise in usage can sharply raise your bill.
How do I work out the 1 unit bijli price for my home?
Take your total units, find the matching slab and rate in the table above, and multiply. Then add FPA, GST, electricity duty, and the TV fee. The blended cost per unit after taxes is usually higher than the headline slab rate, so use the table as a starting point, not the final number.
Why is my IESCO bill higher than last month?
The usual causes are a jump into a higher slab, a rise in the fuel price adjustment, or heavier peak-hour usage on a TOU meter. Compare this month’s units and rate line against last month’s bill to spot which one it is. Crossing the 200-unit protected line is the most common surprise.
What are IESCO peak hours?
Peak hours are the evening high-demand window when TOU meters charge a higher rate, generally around 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM and shifting by season. In summer the window often runs 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Running heavy appliances outside this window on a TOU connection saves money.
Does the per unit rate include taxes?
No. The slab rate is the energy charge only. Your final bill adds FPA, quarterly adjustment, electricity duty, 18% GST, the TV fee, and any meter rent. That is why the amount due is always higher than units multiplied by the slab rate alone.