Pesco commercial connection tariff rates per unit

PESCO commercial connection tariff rates per unit determine how business electricity charges are calculated in Peshawar and surrounding regions. Rates vary depending on sanctioned load, voltage supply level, and time-of-use peak or off-peak hours. Understanding your specific tariff category helps you estimate monthly power costs accurately.

How PESCO commercial electricity rates per unit work

Commercial electricity rates in PESCO are structured differently from residential tariffs. Instead of relying solely on baseline unit consumption slabs, commercial accounts are evaluated based on operational scale, connected load capacity, and supply voltage.

Your total per-unit cost on a commercial electricity bill comprises several components:

• Variable energy charge: The base price billed per kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumed.
• Fixed or capacity charges: Additional charges applied based on sanctioned load or peak demand measured in kW or kVA (primarily for higher-voltage connections).
• Time-of-Use (TOU) rates: Differential per-unit rates where electricity consumed during defined peak hours costs more per unit than electricity consumed during off-peak hours.
• Taxes and regulatory surcharges: Government taxes, fuel price adjustments (FPA), and financing surcharges added on top of base tariff rates.

How to find the correct PESCO commercial tariff rate for 2026

Because tariffs are regulated and updated periodically by NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority), you should verify the exact rate tier assigned to your business account rather than assuming a single flat rate.

To identify your current applicable rate:

1. Locate your tariff code: Check the top section of your bill to find your assigned tariff category (such as A-2 commercial categories).
2. Identify your sanctioned load: Check whether your connection is rated below 5 kW, between 5 kW and 50 kW, or above 50 kW.
3. Check metering type: Confirm whether your connection uses a single-phase/three-phase standard meter or a 4-wire TOU meter.
4. Consult official schedules: Review the latest billing breakdown or check the PESCO tariff guide to cross-reference approved schedules. You can also estimate total monthly costs using the PESCO bill estimator or calculate load requirements via the PESCO load calculator.

Which commercial tariff category applies to your PESCO connection?

PESCO classifies commercial connections into distinct tariff slabs based on supply voltage and sanctioned capacity:

• Commercial A-2a (Low Voltage - below 5 kW): Applies to small shops, retail outlets, and small offices operating on low voltage single-phase or three-phase connections without TOU metering requirements.
• Commercial A-2b (Low Voltage - 5 kW to 50 kW): Designed for medium commercial establishments. Connections in this category may require Time-of-Use (TOU) metering with distinct peak and off-peak unit pricing.
• Commercial A-2c (High Voltage / Bulk Supply): Applies to large commercial complexes, shopping malls, and heavy commercial loads operating at 11 kV or higher, subject to fixed capacity charges alongside variable energy charges.

What changes the final PESCO commercial electricity bill?

Calculating commercial electricity costs involves more than multiplying consumed units by the basic energy rate. The final amount payable on a PESCO bill includes secondary charges, government levies, and monthly adjustments that change the effective cost per unit.

To forecast your overall monthly utility expenses accurate to actual billing line items, test your monthly usage scenarios using the PESCO bill estimator.

Peak and off-peak commercial electricity rates

Commercial connections equipped with Time-of-Use (TOU) meters do not use a single flat rate across 24 hours. Instead, consumption is split into two distinct pricing windows:

• Peak Hours: High-demand evening hours where per-unit electricity rates are higher. Operating heavy machinery or air conditioning during this window significantly increases total bill amounts.
• Off-Peak Hours: Remaining hours of the day and night where per-unit rates are lower than peak charges.

Businesses operating under TOU billing can reduce overall costs by shifting energy-intensive commercial tasks—such as cold storage chilling, heavy equipment operation, or batch production—to off-peak hours.

Common mistakes when checking PESCO commercial unit prices

When calculating expected commercial electricity expenses, businesses often encounter billing discrepancies due to common errors:

• Confusing A-1 and A-2 Categories: Applying residential tariff slabs (A-1) to commercial premises (A-2) leads to inaccurate cost estimates.
• Ignoring Sanctioned Load Limits: Running load beyond the approved sanctioned limit can trigger low power factor penalties or force a reclassification into higher tariff categories. You can evaluate your connected load requirements using the PESCO load calculator.
• Omitting FPA and Government Taxes: Relying solely on the basic per-unit tariff rate understates the total bill amount by ignoring monthly fuel adjustments and statutory taxes.
• Misinterpreting TOU Schedules: Estimating peak-hour usage using off-peak rates results in budget shortfalls for connections with time-of-use metering.

Conclusion

Determining your PESCO commercial connection tariff rate requires identifying your specific tariff code, sanctioned load, and supply voltage. Accounting for fixed charges, taxes, and time-of-use windows ensures an accurate understanding of your total energy expenditures. For immediate access to your current statement or to review past billing details, check your bill status on the PESCO duplicate bill online page.