QUETTA: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has increased electricity prices across Pakistan by Rs 1.79 per unit, effective from January 1.
The decision has been forwarded to the federal government and will be implemented after official approval.
Currently, the average base electricity tariff in the country stands at Rs 31.59 per unit.
At the same time, NEPRA has also announced a reduction of Rs 0.93 per unit under the fuel price adjustment for November.
According to the notification, consumers across the country, including Karachi, will receive this relief in their January electricity bills.
However, lifeline consumers will not benefit from this reduction.
Electricity prices in Pakistan vary from city to city due to several interconnected factors.
One major reason is the difference in electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), as each company has its own operational costs, line losses, and efficiency levels, which directly affect consumer tariffs.
Cities with higher transmission and distribution losses or electricity theft often face comparatively higher costs passed on to consumers.
Another key factor is the fuel mix used for power generation supplying different regions.
Areas relying more on expensive imported fuels such as furnace oil, LNG, or coal tend to experience higher electricity prices, while regions benefiting from hydropower or local energy sources may see relatively lower costs.
Fuel price adjustments approved by NEPRA on a monthly basis also influence bills differently depending on consumption and billing cycles.
Population density and consumption patterns further impact electricity pricing.
Large metropolitan cities usually have higher demand, especially during peak hours, which increases generation and capacity charges.
In addition, infrastructure age, maintenance expenses, and the level of government subsidies or relief packages applied at different times play a role in determining final electricity prices across cities in Pakistan.
