Updated: July 2026
The MEPCO per unit price in 2026 sits between Rs 5 and Rs 14 per unit for protected residential users, and roughly Rs 23 to Rs 68 per unit for non-protected users, based on NEPRA’s rebasing decision effective 1 July 2026. Your exact rate depends on how many units you used in the month and whether you count as a protected consumer. The average base tariff for the 2026-27 year works out to roughly Rs 31 per unit, but confirm the exact rate on your latest bill.
These are base energy rates only. Your final bill also carries a fuel price adjustment (FPA), a quarterly tariff adjustment, GST, electricity duty and a few small fixed charges, which we break down further below. If you just want to see your own numbers, you can check your MEPCO bill online and read the rate straight off the slab.
This guide covers the MEPCO tariff 2026 slab by slab, shows you how to turn units into rupees with a worked example, and explains why the same house can get a very different bill from one month to the next. If you also want to clear the amount, our MEPCO bill payment online guide walks through every method.
MEPCO Electricity Rates 2026
MEPCO (Multan Electric Power Company) serves Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Vehari, Sahiwal, Khanewal and Rahim Yar Khan. It uses the same NEPRA-notified slab structure as other Punjab distributors, so the mepco unit rate today matches the national residential tariff.
The table below shows approximate residential rates effective 1 July 2026. Protected consumers get the subsidised column; everyone else pays the non-protected rate for their slab.
| Monthly Units | Non-Protected Rate (Rs/unit) | Protected Rate (Rs/unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 50 | about 23 | about 5 |
| 51 – 100 | about 23 | about 8 |
| 101 – 200 | about 30 | about 14 |
| 201 – 300 | about 34 | not applicable |
| 301 – 400 | about 39 | not applicable |
| 401 – 500 | about 42 | not applicable |
| 501 – 600 | about 44 | not applicable |
| 601 – 700 | about 46 | not applicable |
| Above 700 | about 65 – 68 | not applicable |
These figures are rounded and can shift with each NEPRA notification, so treat them as a guide. Confirm the exact figure on your latest bill, where the applied rate is printed next to your units.
A protected consumer is a household that stays at or below 200 units every month, has no air conditioner registered on the meter, and a sanctioned load under 5 kW. Cross 200 units even once, and you move to the non-protected rate for that billing cycle. That single rule explains a lot of surprise bills, so it is worth remembering.
How to Calculate Your MEPCO Bill from Units
You do not need a fancy mepco bill calculator to get close. The slabs are progressive, which means each block of units is charged at its own rate and then added up.
- Find your total units for the month on your bill (units consumed).
- Decide if you are protected or non-protected. If you used more than 200 units, use the non-protected column.
- Split your units across the slabs and multiply each block by its rate.
- Add the blocks together to get the base energy cost.
- Add FPA, quarterly adjustment, electricity duty, GST, TV fee and meter rent.
- The total is your payable amount.
Worked example: 300 units (approximate)
Because 300 units crosses the 200-unit line, this house is billed at non-protected rates. Under the 2026 slabs, a 300-unit bill is often charged at a single applicable slab rate rather than block by block, but here is a simple block-style estimate to show the idea.
- First 100 units at about Rs 23 = Rs 2,300
- Next 100 units (101 – 200) at about Rs 30 = Rs 3,000
- Next 100 units (201 – 300) at about Rs 34 = Rs 3,400
- Base energy cost = about Rs 8,700
Now add the extras. A rough FPA and quarterly adjustment might add Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, electricity duty runs around 1.5 percent, GST is 18 percent on the taxable amount, plus a Rs 35 TV fee and small meter rent. All in, a 300-unit MEPCO bill often lands somewhere near Rs 11,000 to Rs 13,000.
This is an approximate example, not a quote. Your real bill depends on the FPA for that month and your consumer category, so always trust the printed figure over any estimate.
Extra Charges on Your Bill
The per-unit rate is only part of the story. These line items are added on top and can swing the total a lot.
Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA): NEPRA sets this monthly based on what fuel was used to generate power. It can be positive (you pay more) or negative (you get a small credit). This is the biggest reason two months with similar units can have different bills.
Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA): Applied every few months to recover capacity and other costs. It appears as a separate line and usually adds to the bill.
Electricity Duty: A provincial charge, roughly 1.5 percent of your energy cost.
General Sales Tax (GST): Currently 18 percent, applied to the taxable portion of the bill.
TV Licence Fee: Currently a flat Rs 35 for domestic consumers, collected on behalf of PTV.
Meter Rent and Fixed Charges: A small monthly amount, and for higher slabs a fixed charge based on sanctioned load may apply.
Why Did My MEPCO Bill Increase This Month?
If your units barely changed but the bill jumped, one of these is usually the reason.
A high FPA: If fuel costs rose, the fuel price adjustment for that month goes up and hits every unit you used. This is the most common surprise.
A slab jump: Going from 200 to 201 units can move you from protected to non-protected rates, which raises the price on your whole month, not just the extra unit. Summer AC use pushes many homes across this line.
Peak-hour usage on a TOU meter: If you have a time-of-use meter and ran heavy appliances in the evening peak, those units cost more.
A quarterly adjustment landing: QTA is not charged every month, so the months it appears look higher.
If none of these fit, compare this month’s units to last month on your bill. A jump in units points to usage; flat units with a higher bill points to FPA or adjustments.
MEPCO Peak and Off-Peak Hours
Time-of-use (TOU) rates only apply if you have a TOU or TOD meter installed. Most ordinary domestic meters are billed on the flat slab rates above, so this section matters mainly for TOU customers and larger households.
MEPCO peak hours shift with the season, since evening demand rises in summer:
- December to February: 5 pm to 9 pm
- March to May: 6 pm to 10 pm
- June to August: 7 pm to 11 pm
- September to November: 6 pm to 10 pm
Everything outside these windows is off-peak and cheaper. If you are on a TOU meter, running your AC, iron, washing machine and water pump outside peak hours can cut a real chunk off the bill. To move onto a TOU plan, ask your local MEPCO office about a time-of-use meter.
How to Lower Your MEPCO Bill
You cannot change the tariff, but you can change how many units you use and when. These steps make a real difference.
- Stay under the 200-unit line if you can. If you are close, small cuts keep you in the protected category and can nearly halve your rate.
- Set your AC to 26°C. Every degree lower burns noticeably more units. 26 is comfortable and far cheaper than 20.
- Shift heavy loads off-peak (TOU meters). Run the washing machine, iron and water pump before or after the evening peak window.
- Switch to LED and inverter appliances. Inverter ACs and fans use less power for the same cooling, and LEDs cut lighting units sharply.
- Unplug idle devices. Chargers, TVs on standby and old fridges quietly add units all month.
- Watch your meter mid-month. If units are climbing fast, you can ease off before you cross a slab boundary.
- Consider solar net metering. If your bills are consistently high, rooftop solar with net metering can offset daytime units and, over time, pay for itself. Get a proper site assessment first.
Small habits compound. Even keeping one AC at 26°C and shifting the pump off-peak can save hundreds of rupees a month.
FAQs
What is the MEPCO per unit price in 2026?
For protected residential users the rate runs about Rs 5 to Rs 14 per unit, and for non-protected users about Rs 23 to Rs 68 per unit, effective 1 July 2026 under NEPRA’s rebasing. Your slab and category decide which rate applies. Check your latest bill for the exact figure.
What is the 1 unit bijli price today for MEPCO?
There is no single 1 unit bijli price, because rates rise with usage. A protected user’s first units cost around Rs 5, while a heavy user above 700 units can pay Rs 65 or more per unit. The mepco unit rate today depends on your monthly total.
What is the difference between protected and non-protected consumers?
Protected consumers stay at or below 200 units every month, have no registered AC, and a load under 5 kW. They get much lower rates. Cross 200 units even once and you become non-protected for that month, paying the higher slab price on your whole bill.
Why is my bijli ka bill higher than my neighbour’s?
Usually it comes down to units and category. If you used more units, or crossed into non-protected while they stayed protected, your rate is higher. A TOU meter and heavy peak-hour use can also raise your bill even with similar consumption.
Does the MEPCO tariff change every month?
The base slab rates are set by NEPRA and change only when a new notification is issued. But the FPA changes monthly and the quarterly adjustment lands a few times a year, so your final bijli ki qeemat can move month to month even when the base rate is steady.
How can I estimate my bill before it arrives?
Note your units from the meter, apply the slab rates in the table above, then add roughly 20 to 30 percent for FPA, taxes and adjustments. It gives a ballpark. For the real amount, wait for the printed bill or use it once it is issued.
Related tariff guides
You can also check any bijli bill online for every major Pakistani distributor from one place.