Electricity Bill Rates and Tariff
Many online options are available for paying your MEPCO bill. These methods offer convenience and often avoid late payment charges.
Online Payment Methods:
- Credit Cards: Use your registered credit card to pay your MEPCO bill online through the MEPCO website or partner banks.
- Digital Wallets: Utilize digital wallets like JazzCash or Easypaisa for quick and easy payments.
- Internet Banking: Log in to your online banking account, select “Bill Payments,” choose MEPCO, and enter your reference number to pay.
Additional Options:
- Visit a Bank: You can also pay your MEPCO bill at select banks.
- Use ATMs: Some ATMs allow you to pay utility bills, including MEPCO.
Remember: Always ensure you have sufficient funds in your chosen payment method before proceeding
Introduction To MEPCO Bill Rates & Tariff
The MEPCO electricity tariff is the price that
consumers pay for their energy consumption. This tariff includes various charges such as demand charges, energy supply fees, and other additional costs, in addition to the current electricity rate. The MEPCO tariff is the total cost of your monthly electricity bill.
The electricity bill rates charged by MEPCO can change based on directives from the Government of Pakistan through the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). Several factors can affect the tariff rates, including changes in fuel prices, power generation costs, and inflation rates.
Contributing Factor To Calculation of Power Tariffs
According to the NEPRA Tariff Standard and Procedure Rules, 1998, the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the power sector in Pakistan sets tariffs for companies involved in generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity within the country.
The electricity tariff for power generation is determined by Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
between power producers, such as Independent Power Producers (IPPs), public Generation Companies, and the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA). These PPAs outline the calculation of revenue demands for each producer. The tariff is calculated based on a predetermined formula.
The electricity tariffs that consumers pay depend on their energy consumption and load conditions. MEPCO sets different tariffs for various consumer types, such as domestic, industrial, and commercial users. Industrial consumers generally pay higher taxes due to their higher and longer-duration electricity demands. Several factors determine electricity tariffs:
- Time of Load Requirement: The time of day when electricity is used can affect the tariff.
- Type of Load: The type of appliances and equipment used determines the load category, which impacts the tariff.
- Energy Consumption: The total amount of electricity consumed affects the bill.
- Power Factor of the Load: The power factor, which measures the efficiency of electricity usage, can also influence the tariff.
MEPCO Unit Rates
The Unit Rate is the pricing structure for electricity consumption for various consumers, including domestic, commercial, and industrial users. Under this system, consumers are charged based on the number of units (kilowatt-hours) of electricity they consume. The unit rate is a fixed price per unit of electricity used, meaning that the more energy a consumer uses, the higher their bill will be.
Price of Electricity Per Unit May 2024
| Electricity Rates | Domestic KWh | Business KWh |
| PKR | 13.080 | 41.900 |
Tariff Rates For MEPCO in 2024
The electricity production costs are influenced by several factors, including Maximum Demand, Load Factor, Connected Load, Plant Capacity Fact, Demand Factor, and Use Factor. The specific factors that impact the costs depend on the type of load and the prevailing load conditions. These factors ultimately contribute to the varying tariffs across different load types and consumer groups.
General Supply Tariff For Residential Use
According to a statement issued by NEPRA in 2022, domestic users are charged a minimum fee even if they don’t consume any energy during a particular month. MEPCO applies the following minimum monthly fees:
- Single-phase connections: Rs. 75
- Three-phase connections: Rs. 150
These charges help MEPCO maintain the necessary infrastructure and ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply to all consumers, regardless of their energy consumption.
| Class | Uniform Tariff | Variable Tariff |
| 50 Units or less | 4.00 | 3.95 |
| 1 – 100 Units | 14.58 | 7.78 |
| 101 – 200 Units | 16.42 | 10.04 |
| 201 – 300 Units | 17.54 | 12.17 |
| 301 – 700 Units | 19.08 | 19.59 |
| Above 700 Units | 20.62 | 22.64 |
| Time of use | Peak – 20.28Off-Peak – 13.11 | Peak – 22.66Off-Peak – 16.34 |
General Supply Tariff Commercial
According to NEPRA, MEPCO customers are required to pay a monthly fee, even if no energy was consumed during the month. This fee follows commercial tariff A-2.
Here are the applicable fees:
- Single-phase connections: Rs. 175 per customer per month
- Three-phase connections: Rs. 350 per customer per month
| Class | FIXEDCHARGES | UNIFORM CHARGES | VARIABLE CHARGES |
| Sanctioned load: Below 5 kW | 19.57 | 19.96 | |
| sanctioned load: Exceeding 5 kW | 440.00 | 19.23 | 21.64 |
| TOU: | 440.00 | At Peak hours:21.02At off peak hours: 13.49 | At Peak hours:23.55At off peak hours: 17.58 |
Industrial Supply Tariff
MEPCO applies a higher tariff rate for industrial consumers compared to domestic consumers. Industrial consumers generally have a higher electricity demand and require a different supply infrastructure to meet their needs. The latest MEPCO tariff reflects these differences in rates.
Minimum Monthly Charges:
- B1 Subscribers: Rs. 350
- B2 Subscribers: Rs. 2,000
- B3 Subscribers: Rs. 50,000
- B4 Subscribers: Rs. 500,000
These are the minimum monthly charges applicable to different subscriber categories.
| Class | Fixed Charges | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| B1 | – | 18.32 | 17.24 |
| B2-a | 440.00 | 17.86 | 16.75 |
| B1-b | – | At Peak hours – 21.18At off-Peak hours – 13.42 | At Peak hours – 20.78At off-Peak hours – 15.24 |
| B2-b | 440.00 | At Peak hours – 20.96At off-Peak hours – 13.51 | At Peak hours – 20.74At off-Peak hours – 15.03 |
| B3 | 420.00 | At Peak hours – 21.12At off-Peak hours – 12.64 | At Peak hours – 20.74At off-Peak hours – 14.96 |
| B4 | 400.00 | At Peak hours – 20.94 At off-Peak hours – 12.98 | At Peak hours – 20.74At off-Peak hours – 14.86 |
Single Point Supply Tariff
The Single Point Supply tariff is a pricing structure where electricity is supplied to a single delivery point. It requires an electrical supply for the motor voltage and a 120V supply for the contacts. The tariff rates are calculated as follows:
Tariff Calculation:
The tariff for Single Point Supply is calculated based on the following factors:
- Maximum Demand (MD): The highest amount of power drawn during a specified period.
- Energy Consumed (EC): The total amount of electricity used during a billing period.
- Unit Rate: The cost per unit of electricity consumed.
Formula:
Total Bill = (MD x Unit Rate) + (EC x Unit Rate)
Breakdown:
- The first part of the formula, (MD x Unit Rate), calculates the demand charge based on the maximum power drawn.
- The second part, (EC x Unit Rate), calculates the energy charge based on the total electricity consumed.
By understanding this formula, you can better calculate your electricity bill under the Single Point Supply tariff.
| Class | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| C-1 (400/230 volts power supply) | ||
| C-1-a: For sanctioned load less than 5KW | 24.37 | 20.64 |
| C-1-b: Where sanctioned load ranges from 5.0kW to 500kW | 21.32 | 20.12 |
| C-2-a: Power Supply:1133 kV Sanctioned load: 5000kW | 17.04 | 19.94 |
| C-3-a: Power Supply up to or exceeding 66 kV Sanctioned load :5000kW | 15-12 | 19.84 |
| C-1-c:Energy supply of 400/230 volts , Sanctioned load:5KW to 500 kW | At Peak hours: 22.45At off-peak hours: 15.00 | At Peak hours: 23.56 At off-peak hours: 16.96 |
| C-2-b: Power supply of 1133 kV with Sanctioned load of 5000 kW | At Peak hours: 20.41 At off-peak hours: 12.88 | At Peak hours: 23.55 At off-peak hours: 16.73 |
| C-3-b: Power supply=66 kV or above supply Sanctioned load = Exceeding 5000 kW | At Peak hours: 19.51 At off-peak hours: 11.67 | At Peak hours: 23.56 At off-peak hours: 16.64 |
Agriculture Tariff for Energy Consumers
According to NEPRA, each agricultural consumer under MEPCO is required to pay a minimum monthly tariff of Rs. 2000, even if they don’t consume any energy during the month.
| Class | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| D-1 (a): For SCARP, power supply below 5 kW | 22.93 | 17.64 |
| D-2 (a): Field tube wells | 17.64 | 7.31 |
| D-1 (b): For SCARP, power supply of 5 KW or above | At Peak hours: 23.78 At off-peak hours: 14.24 | At Peak hours: 20.56 At off-peak hours: 13.31 |
| D-2 (b): Sanctioned load up to or exceeding 5 kW | At Peak hours: 21.45 At off-peak hours: 13.05 | At Peak hours :7.32 At off-peak hours: 7.31 |
Temporary Supply Tariff
| Class | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| E-1-a: Domestic Purposes | 21.74 | 22.78 |
| E-1-b: Commercial utilization | 19.24 | 20.35 |
| E-2-b: Industrial utilization | 18.37 | 18.32 |
Seasonal Industrial Supply Tariff
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) allows seasonal consumers to switch to the regular tariff. This option is available at the beginning of each seasonal period and can be beneficial for consumers who want more flexibility in their tariff choices. By switching to the regular tariff, consumers can ensure they are charged fairly and transparently for their energy consumption.
Public Lighting
MEPCO requires consumers in Multan to pay a tariff of Rs. 500 per kW based on the capacity of installed lamps monthly. This tariff applies to public lighting and is classified as the G tariff.
| Class | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| Public lighting | 19.01 | 20.64 |
Residential Areas in Industrial locations
| Class | Uniform Charges | Variable Charges |
| Public lighting | 19.01 | 20.64 |
MEPCO Withholding Tax
An electricity withholding tax statement is a document that shows the amount of tax withheld from electricity payments made to an electricity supplier. Consumers are
charged different tax rates based on the applicable tariff and the amount of their electricity bill.
Domestic electricity consumers included in the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) are exempt from withholding tax. The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) is responsible for collecting withholding tax on electricity consumption, as per Section 235 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. For bills with a gross amount between Rs. 500 and Rs. 20,000, the withholding tax rate is 10%.
Conclusion
Understanding electricity bill tariffs and rates is crucial for managing your electricity costs effectively. By understanding these factors, you can make informed decisions about your electricity usage and choose the most cost-effective options. Additionally, being aware of taxes and charges added to your bill and taking steps to reduce your overall electricity consumption can help you save money and minimize your environmental impact.