NEPRA wheeling charges set at Rs 6.23 to Rs 19.62 a unit, clearing the way for the first 400MW power auction
Bulk consumers who buy electricity straight from private suppliers now know what it costs to move it over the grid. Those outside the auction pay Rs 19.17 to Rs 32.56 a unit.
NEPRA has fixed the wheeling charges that bulk electricity buyers will pay to move power over the national grid, at Rs 6.23 to Rs 19.62 a unit for those who take part in the new competitive market, ProPakistani reported on 10 October. The decision removes the last obstacle to Pakistan's first 400MW electricity auction, which was due in June but stalled because these charges were not settled.
Wheeling charges are the fee for using someone else's wires. A factory that signs a contract with a private power producer still needs the national grid and a distribution company, such as LESCO or K-Electric, to deliver that power. The charge covers transmission and distribution costs, a fixed grid charge and the cross-subsidies built into everyone's bills, and is paid on top of the price agreed with the supplier.
The rates, per unit
| Consumer category | In the auction | Outside the auction |
|---|---|---|
| B-3 industrial | Rs 6.23 | Rs 19.17 |
| B-4 industrial | Rs 9.09 | Rs 25.45 |
| C-2 single-point supply | Rs 14.95 | Rs 31.30 |
| C-3 single-point supply | Rs 19.62 | Rs 32.56 |
| A-2 and A-3 general supply | Rs 19.14 | Rs 32.08 |
| Agricultural | Rs 6.72 | Rs 19.66 |
On top of these, every buyer pays a fixed grid charge of Rs 1 per kW a month on sanctioned load. NEPRA set a uniform loss factor of 8.04% for connections at 11 kV and 1.51% at 132 kV.
How the auction will work
- Who runs it: the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), which is expected to publish the calendar and rules shortly.
- How much: the government has set aside 800MW for competitive auctions in two phases over five years, starting with 400MW. More could follow after the trial.
- Bids: no floor or ceiling, and prices stay fixed for one year.
- Who can buy: Pakistan's roughly 3,000 bulk power consumers, mostly large factories and commercial users, under the competitive bilateral market (CTBCM) that began commercial operation on 22 January 2026.
What it means for you
Households are not part of this market and their bills do not change. For industry, the gap between the two columns is the point: a B-3 factory that buys through the auction pays about Rs 13 a unit less in wheeling charges than one that does not, which is what is meant to pull bulk users towards cheaper private power. Whether that saving survives depends on the prices bid in the first auction.
Check what your own home bill should be with our electricity bill calculator, or count units with the electricity units calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What are NEPRA's wheeling charges for bulk consumers?
- For consumers taking part in the competitive auction, Rs 6.23 a unit for B-3 industry up to Rs 19.62 for C-3 single-point supply, plus Rs 1 per kW a month fixed grid charge. Non-participants pay Rs 19.17 to Rs 32.56 a unit.
- When is Pakistan's first power auction?
- The Independent System and Market Operator is expected to hold the first 400MW auction within a couple of months and to announce the calendar shortly, ProPakistani reported on 10 October 2026.
Sources
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