Energy & Consumer Affairs Desk | April 2026 | 4 min read
| ⚡ QUICK TAKEAWAYS
• NEPRA has approved a fuel cost adjustment of Rs 1.4235 per unit for February 2026 — to be charged in April 2026 bills. • Both Ex-WAPDA DISCO and K-Electric consumers will pay the surcharge under a uniform FCA policy. • Lifeline consumers, EV charging stations and pre-paid electricity users are fully exempt from this FCA. • The FCA will appear as a separate line item on April electricity bills based on February consumption units. • The previous FCA for January 2026 was Rs 1.6274 per unit — this month’s rate is slightly lower. |
NEPRA has issued a new fuel cost adjustment notification covering February 2026, adding Rs 1.4235 per unit to electricity tariffs. The charge will appear in April 2026 electricity bills — affecting consumers across Ex-WAPDA distribution companies and K-Electric, with specific exemptions for vulnerable and pre-paid categories.
FCA FIGURES — KEY NUMBERS
| Rs 1.42/kWh
FCA Increase Fuel adjustment — February 2026 |
April 2026
Billing Month When consumers will see the charge |
Rs 1.63/kWh
Previous FCA (Jan) January 2026 approved uniform increase |
The Numbers: How the Rs 1.42 Was Calculated
The fuel cost adjustment is not an arbitrary figure — it is calculated by comparing the actual national average uniform fuel charge component against the reference fuel charge embedded in the approved base tariff. For February 2026, the gap between these two figures produced a positive FCA, meaning actual fuel costs ran above the reference level and the difference is passed on to consumers.
| Component | Rate |
| Actual National Avg. Uniform FCC (Feb 2026) | Rs 8.1573 / kWh |
| Reference Fuel Charge Component | Rs 6.7337 / kWh |
| National Avg. Uniform FCA — Net Increase (Feb 2026) | Rs 1.4235 / kWh |
The Rs 1.4235 per unit FCA is slightly lower than the Rs 1.6274 per unit approved for January 2026 — a marginal improvement, though still a significant additional cost on bills at a time when household budgets are already under pressure from rising fuel and food prices.
Who Pays and Who Is Exempt — Full Breakdown
The FCA applies broadly but includes important carve-outs for vulnerable and transitional consumer categories. The table below shows exactly which consumers will see the charge in their April bill and which are protected:
| Consumer Category | Type | FCA Status |
| Ex-WAPDA DISCO Consumers | All categories | Applicable — April 2026 bill |
| K-Electric (KE) Consumers | All categories | Applicable — same period |
| Incremental Consumption Package | ICP consumers | Applicable |
| Lifeline Consumers | Low-income bracket | EXEMPT — not applicable |
| EV Charging Stations (EVCS) | Electric vehicle chargers | EXEMPT — not applicable |
| Pre-Paid Electricity Consumers | All pre-paid categories | EXEMPT — not applicable |
| EXEMPT CONSUMERS — CONFIRMED
Lifeline consumers (the lowest-income electricity users), EV charging stations and all consumers on pre-paid tariff plans are fully exempt from this Rs 1.42 per unit FCA. These exemptions are explicit in NEPRA’s official SRO notification issued on April 8, 2026. |
When and How It Will Appear on Your Bill
The FCA for February 2026 will be reflected in billing month April 2026 by both Ex-WAPDA DISCOs and K-Electric. It will appear as a separate line item on the electricity bill — calculated on the basis of actual units consumed in February 2026, not April’s consumption.
If any April bills are issued before this notification reaches the concerned distribution company, the FCA may be applied in the subsequent month’s bill instead. Consumers who receive an April bill without the FCA line should expect it to appear in May in that case.
| WHAT TO CHECK ON YOUR APRIL BILL
Look for a separate line item labelled ‘FCA’ or ‘Fuel Cost Adjustment’ on your April electricity bill. This should show the per-unit rate of Rs 1.4235 multiplied by your February 2026 units. If the amount appears incorrect or the line is missing, contact your DISCO or K-Electric customer service. |
Key Takeaways
- NEPRA has approved a Rs 1.4235 per unit fuel cost adjustment for February 2026, to be collected in April 2026 bills.
- The FCA applies uniformly to Ex-WAPDA DISCO and K-Electric consumers — both now under the same uniform FCA policy.
- Lifeline consumers, EV charging stations and pre-paid electricity users are fully exempt from this charge.
- The FCA will appear as a separate line on your April bill, calculated on February 2026 consumption units.
- This FCA is lower than the January FCA of Rs 1.6274 per unit — but still represents a meaningful additional burden.
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article is based on NEPRA’s official SRO notification (S.R.O. 629(I)/2026) issued on April 8, 2026, and publicly available regulatory data. This content is intended for general informational purposes only.
