LESCO Protected Users — Rates, Eligibility & Examples
A complete guide to Pakistan's subsidised residential tariff for households consuming up to 200 units a month.
Eligibility checklist
- Monthly consumption ≤ 200 units in each of the last 6 billing months
- Residential connection only — not commercial or industrial
- Single-phase or three-phase domestic meter
- GST is fully waived for your bill
- Connection must be at least 6 months old
- No arrears or disconnection notice in the period
Protected slab rates
Updated Sep 2026| Slab | Rate (Rs/unit) | Fixed (per kW) |
|---|---|---|
| 01 — 100 units | Rs 10.54 | Rs 200 |
| 101 — 200 units | Rs 13.01 | Rs 300 |
Source: NEPRA-approved tariff for protected residential consumers. GST is fully exempted for this category.
Two worked examples
Realistic bill calculations for protected households.
50-unit protected bill
150-unit protected bill
How to check if you're protected
- 1Find your 14-digit reference number printed at the top of your latest bill.
- 2Open our Bill Check tool and enter the reference number to load the most recent bill.
- 3On the bill PDF, look at the 'Tariff' line — codes A-1a(01) or A-1a(02) mean you are protected.
The 6-month rolling rule explained
A protected LESCO consumer is anyone whose residential meter has recorded 200 units or fewer in every one of the last 6 billing cycles. LESCO evaluates this rolling window on every bill run. If your consumption crosses the ceiling — even once — the protected classification is removed from the next bill and GST plus higher slab rates apply immediately. This is why summer months are the most common time consumers lose the subsidy.
What the protected subsidy is worth
Across the two protected slabs the per-unit price is roughly one-third of the equivalent non-protected slabs, and the 18% GST is fully waived. On a 150-unit month that translates to a saving of Rs 3,000–4,000 versus the non-protected tariff. The subsidy is funded from the federal budget and administered under NEPRA's schedule of tariff — read the official NEPRA site for the current notified rates.
How to regain protected status
Losing protected classification is not permanent. Keep monthly consumption at or below 200 units for 6 consecutive billing cycles and LESCO's system automatically reinstates the subsidised tariff — no application or office visit is required. Track your usage every month with the LESCO bill calculator and confirm the classification on each bill via our bill check tool.
Related pages
See the non-protected users tariff for the alternative, compare the 100 units bill with the 200 units bill, or open the complete unit rates table.
Official sources & references
The information on this page references the following official portals and regulators. lescobillonline.com is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with LESCO, PITC or NEPRA.
- https://nepra.org.pk — NEPRA — regulator publishing the schedule of tariff
- https://power.gov.pk — Power Division — subsidy notifications
- https://bill.pitc.com.pk/lescobill — Official LESCO bill lookup
- Rates effective
- 12 Feb 2026
- Last reviewed
- Sep 2026
- Source
- Government of Pakistan S.R.O. 279(I)/2026, Annex A-1 (NEPRA-determined residential tariff)
Tariffs, fuel adjustments and taxes change often. Figures here are estimates from an independent site, not LESCO or PITC — always check your actual bill.
Common questions
What disqualifies me from protected status?
Consuming more than 200 units in any single month within the last 6 billing cycles disqualifies you. You will be shifted to the non-protected tariff from the next bill, and the GST exemption is removed.
Can I become protected again after losing it?
Yes. Keep your monthly consumption at or below 200 units for 6 consecutive months. After the 6-month rolling window passes the protected threshold, LESCO automatically reclassifies your connection and re-applies the subsidised slab.
Are protected consumers fully exempt from GST?
Yes. Protected residential consumers do not pay the 17–18% General Sales Tax on their electricity bill. Other surcharges such as Electricity Duty, PTV fee and fuel adjustment still apply but at reduced amounts.
How do I confirm my tariff category on the bill?
Look at the 'Tariff' line on your printed or downloaded bill — protected consumers see codes like A-1a(01) or A-1a(02). You can also use our Bill Check tool to view the latest bill which clearly displays the tariff slab.