ISLAMABAD, November 6, 2026: Electricity distribution companies have sought regulatory approval to recover an additional Rs23.33 billion from consumers through quarterly tariff adjustments, raising the prospect of higher electricity bills across Pakistan, including Karachi.
The power companies have submitted a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) seeking adjustments for expenses incurred during July to September 2026.
The proposed recovery would apply to electricity consumers nationwide, including those served by K-Electric, if approved by the regulator.
NEPRA has scheduled a hearing on the petition for November 17, after which it will determine whether the requested adjustment should be allowed and how much consumers would pay per unit.
Capacity payments account for major portion of request
According to the petition, distribution companies have proposed recovering Rs38.92 billion in capacity charges and another Rs5.597 billion in operation and maintenance expenses.
The application also includes a reduction of Rs29.25 billion attributed to the impact of the incremental electricity consumption package.
After accounting for these adjustments and other components, the companies have requested a net additional recovery of Rs23.33 billion from electricity consumers.
Capacity payments represent costs associated with maintaining electricity generation capacity, while operation and maintenance expenses cover costs related to running and maintaining power infrastructure.
The quarterly tariff adjustment mechanism allows power companies to seek recovery of eligible costs through regulatory proceedings.
K-Electric consumers also face possible increase
The proposed adjustment is not limited to consumers served by state-owned electricity distribution companies.
According to the application, consumers in Karachi and other areas supplied by K-Electric would also fall within the scope of the proposed quarterly adjustment.
However, the exact increase in the per-unit electricity tariff has not yet been determined.
NEPRA will examine the companies’ financial claims, proposed recoveries and adjustments during its November 17 hearing before issuing a decision.
Any additional charges would remain subject to regulatory approval, and the final financial impact on consumers will depend on the tariff adjustment authorised by NEPRA.
The petition comes amid continued concerns over electricity costs for households and businesses, with any approved increase likely to add to consumers’ monthly power expenses.