Last updated: · Reviewed by the lescobillonline.com editorial team
What are peak hours?
Peak hours are the evening window when national demand is highest and the most expensive generation plants have to run. To discourage use in that window, NEPRA allows distribution companies to charge a higher per-unit rate for electricity consumed during it.
Only consumers with a time-of-use (ToU) meter are billed this way. A ToU meter records peak and off-peak units separately, and your bill shows two lines instead of one.
Peak hour timings by season
Timings are notified by NEPRA and can be revised, so the definitive window for your connection is the one printed on your own bill. Sundays and holidays are not treated differently under the standard residential ToU schedule.
| Season | Months | Peak window |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | April – October | 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm |
| Winter | November – March | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm |
| Off-peak | All year | All remaining hours |
Who is billed on peak and off-peak rates?
If your bill shows a single units figure with no peak/off-peak split, you are on a flat slab tariff and peak hours do not directly change your rate — though reducing evening load still lowers your total units.
- Residential consumers with sanctioned load above the ToU threshold — typically larger homes and three-phase connections.
- Most commercial connections above the small-shop category.
- Industrial connections, where the peak differential is largest.
- Consumers who requested a ToU meter voluntarily to benefit from cheaper night units.
How much more do peak units cost?
The peak rate is materially higher than the off-peak rate — historically the gap has ranged from roughly a third to more than double, depending on the tariff category and the notification in force. Because the difference is per unit, a household running an air conditioner for four evening hours can pay thousands of rupees more per month than the same usage shifted to the afternoon or night.
Use the advanced tariff calculator to model both scenarios: enter the same total units, then compare how the bill changes when a share of them moves out of the peak window.
What to shift out of peak hours
- Washing machine and dryer — run them in the morning or after the peak window closes.
- Electric iron — one of the highest-wattage household devices; iron in bulk during off-peak.
- Water motor and pumps — fill overhead tanks at midday or overnight.
- Dishwasher and oven — schedule with a delay timer where available.
- Electric geyser — heat before evening or use a timer switch.
- EV charging — always overnight.
- Air conditioning — you cannot always avoid it, but raising the thermostat by 2 °C during peak makes a visible difference.
Peak hours, solar and net metering
Rooftop solar produces most of its output in the middle of the day, which is off-peak. Under net metering the exported daytime units offset imported units, so a solar household can strip a large share of its billed consumption even though production and peak demand do not overlap.
Pairing solar with a battery or simply moving heavy loads to daylight hours magnifies the saving, because self-consumed units avoid both the tariff and the taxes computed on it.
Helpful tips
- Set appliance delay timers the night before so nothing heavy runs between 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm.
- Label your peak window on the fridge — household habits change faster than tariffs.
- Check your bill for a peak/off-peak split before optimising; flat-slab consumers should focus on total units instead.
Warnings & common mistakes
- Peak timings change with the season and can be revised by notification — always confirm from your latest bill.
- A ToU meter cannot be switched back to flat slab on request; it depends on your sanctioned load and category.
- Running everything at 10:35 pm instead of 10:25 pm helps your bill, not the grid — stagger heavy appliances.
Frequently asked questions
What are LESCO peak hours in summer?
For most time-of-use consumers the summer peak window runs from about 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm between April and October. The exact window for your connection is printed on your bill.
Do peak hours apply to every LESCO consumer?
No. Only consumers with a time-of-use meter — generally larger residential, commercial and industrial connections — are billed at separate peak and off-peak rates.
How much more expensive are peak units?
The peak rate is substantially higher than the off-peak rate; the exact differential depends on your tariff category and the current NEPRA notification, and is shown on your bill.
Does using an AC at night count as peak?
After the peak window closes — usually 10:30 pm in summer — consumption is billed at the off-peak rate, so late-night cooling is cheaper than early-evening cooling.
Can I get a time-of-use meter to save money?
Consumers whose load is concentrated at night can benefit. Apply through your LESCO subdivision office; approval depends on your sanctioned load and tariff category.
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