ISLAMABAD: The government has announced a substantial reduction in electricity rates for industrial and agricultural consumers, slashing charges on excess consumption by approximately Rs15 per unit. The move, approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), aims to support economic growth and ease operational costs for key sectors.
Under the new tariff structure, industries and agricultural users will now pay Rs22.98 per unit for electricity consumed above the previous year’s usage. This is a significant decrease from the earlier rates of Rs34 per unit for industries and Rs38 per unit for agriculture.
Impact on Consumers
For example, a farmer who previously consumed 100 units will save around Rs7 per unit on the next 100 units of electricity, while an industrial consumer using 1,000 units will benefit from a reduction of roughly Rs5 per unit on additional consumption. The adjustments apply exclusively to excess usage, leaving domestic and commercial rates unchanged.
Government Highlights Benefits
Federal Minister for Power, Awais Leghari, welcomed the move, stating that the relief package would stimulate production and create additional employment opportunities. He noted that greenfield industries, including data centres and cryptocurrency mining operations, would also benefit under the three-year package, allowing sectors to plan for the long term with improved energy cost predictability.
Context and Future Outlook
The revision comes as part of the government’s broader initiative to provide tariff relief for strategic sectors while maintaining fiscal stability. Previously, industrial and agricultural users faced high upfront electricity costs despite adjustments through tax filings, which often strained operational budgets.
Nepra’s notification follows earlier reports that overall electricity costs for households and industries may rise next year due to adjustments in the national power purchase price, currently proposed between Rs25.69 and Rs26.69 per unit for fiscal year 2026. However, the targeted relief ensures that core production sectors can maintain competitive energy rates.
