# K-Electric tariff notified at Rs 32.37 a unit as tribunal rejects KE's appeals

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/k-electric-tariff-notified-at-rs-3237-a-unit-as-tribunal-rejects-kes-appeals)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 24 Sept 2026
Updated: 25 Sept 2026
Retrieved: 30 Sept 2026

> NEPRA's cut from Rs 39.97 stands for FY2024 to FY2030. Karachi still pays the uniform tariff, but the subsidy bill falls by about Rs 200 billion.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has notified K-Electric's base tariff at **Rs 32.37 per unit**, and the NEPRA Appellate Tribunal has rejected the company's appeals against the cut. The figure is Rs 7.60 (19%) below the Rs 39.97 a unit KE had originally been allowed, and it now stands for KE's seven-year multi-year tariff, FY2024 to FY2030.

## The numbers

| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| KE base tariff (per unit) | Rs 39.97 | Rs 32.37 |
| KE effective return | about 22 to 23% | about 13 to 14% |
| Government subsidy owed to KE over 7 years | | about Rs 200 billion lower |

The tariff will be indexed to inflation and exchange-rate changes each year until FY2030, so Rs 32.37 is the starting point, not a fixed rate for seven years.

## Will a Karachi bill go down?

Not directly. Under the federal government's policy guidelines of 22 August 2023, KE customers are charged the same **uniform national tariff** as consumers of the other distribution companies (LESCO, IESCO, MEPCO and the rest). The base tariff decides how much the government pays KE on top of what you pay, not the per-unit rate printed on your bill. What changes is the subsidy: the government now expects to pay about Rs 200 billion less over the control period.

Your bill still depends on your slab, your protected or unprotected status, the monthly fuel charges adjustment and the quarterly adjustment. To see what your units cost, use our [electricity bill calculator](/tools/utilities/electricity-bill-calculator) or check your latest bill with the [K-Electric bill check guide](/guides/utilities/k-electric-bill-check-online).

## What the tribunal decided

A three-member NEPRA Appellate Tribunal announced a verbal order this week upholding the revised determination and rejecting KE's appeals against NEPRA's orders of 20 October 2025. KE said in a statement that the tariff "is not considered financially sustainable" and that it will "consider all legal remedies available to it" once it receives the written order. That points to a court challenge.

## Why it matters for Karachi

The ruling lands in a bad month for KE. Its representatives were questioned on Wednesday over power outages in the city, and the company is short of cash: we reported on 22 September that [Rs 65 billion had been withdrawn and the tariff was stuck at Rs 32 a unit](/news/business/k-electric-cash-crunch-rs-65bn-withdrawn-tariff-stuck-at-rs-32-a-unit). A lower allowed return leaves less room for new investment in the network, which is where load-shedding complaints usually end up.

## What to do

- Nothing changes on your October bill because of this notification alone.
- If your bill looks wrong, request a duplicate online and compare the units with your meter reading before paying.
- Complaints about outages go first to KE's 118 helpline, then to NEPRA's complaint portal if not resolved.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the K-Electric per unit rate now?**

NEPRA has notified KE's base tariff at Rs 32.37 per unit for FY2024 to FY2030. Karachi consumers are still billed at the uniform national tariff for their slab, so the rate on your bill does not change because of this notification.

## Sources

- Nepra notifies KE base tariff at Rs32.37 per unit (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2032223/nepra-notifies-ke-base-tariff-at-rs3237-per-unit
- Tribunal rejects KE's appeals against NEPRA's orders (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440982/tribunal-rejects-kes-appeals-against-nepras-orders
- NEPRA and K-Electric representatives grilled over power outages (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40440981/nepra-and-k-electric-representatives-grilled-over-power-outages

How to cite: "K-Electric tariff notified at Rs 32.37 a unit as tribunal rejects KE's appeals", Searchable, 25 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/k-electric-tariff-notified-at-rs-3237-a-unit-as-tribunal-rejects-kes-appeals