How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in Pakistan

Two Ways to Lower Your Bill

Your bill comes down to two things you control: how many units you use, and when you use them. NEPRA's own consumer service manual has a whole chapter on using electricity efficiently, and it says that with a little effort, savings of twenty to thirty percent are possible.

These habits help on any connection, anywhere in Pakistan. This guide covers:

Know and track your usage
Cooling: the biggest load
Lighting and appliances
Time your usage, and bigger steps

Know and Track Your Usage

You cannot manage what you do not measure, so the cheapest savings start with knowing where your power goes. NEPRA's consumer service manual suggests starting here.

Compare this year with last year

NEPRA's manual suggests writing down your units and cost for each month and comparing them with the same months last year. The gap shows the months, and the habits, that cost you the most.

Do a simple energy audit

Walk around the house and notice where power is used and wasted: lights left on, an old fridge, an AC cooling an empty room. NEPRA's manual calls this an energy audit and says many of the easiest savings cost little or nothing.

Watch your monthly units and your slab

Electricity is priced in slabs, so as your monthly units cross a level the rate on your units rises, and a home that stays under the protected level pays a lower, subsidised rate. Keeping your monthly total down can save you twice. Our guide to slabs and protected status explains how.

Cooling: the Biggest Load

In most Pakistani homes the air conditioner is the single heaviest load, so small changes here make the biggest difference.

Set the AC to a moderate temperature

Each degree cooler makes the AC work noticeably harder. Setting it around 24 to 26 degrees, instead of very low, cuts the running cost while still keeping the room comfortable.

Cool only the rooms you are using

Following NEPRA's manual, reduce or switch off cooling in unoccupied rooms and before you leave, rather than cooling the whole house all day.

Service the AC and clean the filters

NEPRA's manual lists servicing and adjusting the air conditioning as a key saving. A serviced AC with clean filters cools more easily and uses less power.

Run fans first

A ceiling fan uses a small fraction of what an AC uses. Using fans, and fans together with the AC, lets you keep the AC at a higher, cheaper setting.

Keep the heat out

Closing curtains against the afternoon sun and insulating the roof reduce how hard the AC has to work to cool the room.

Lighting and Appliances

After cooling, lighting and everyday appliances are where the next savings come from. NEPRA's manual gives several of these directly.

Switch to LED bulbs

NEPRA's manual recommends efficient bulbs such as LEDs, which give the same light as old bulbs while using much less electricity.

Turn things off when not needed

Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use, remove unneeded bulbs, and use daylight when you can. NEPRA's manual lists all of these as quick, low-cost savings.

Cut standby power

A TV, a charger, or a microwave left on standby keeps drawing a little power all day. Switch devices off at the plug when you are not using them.

Choose efficient appliances

When an old appliance needs replacing, an inverter AC or a model with a good energy rating does the same work with less electricity, so it costs less to run every month.

Use cold water and full loads

Heating water takes a lot of energy, so washing clothes in cold water and running the washing machine with full loads saves power.

Time Your Usage, and Bigger Steps

Beyond using less, you can use power at cheaper times, and a few bigger moves can cut your bill further.

Shift heavy use to off-peak hours

If your connection has a time-of-use meter, electricity costs more during the busy evening peak hours and less off-peak. Running heavy appliances like the washing machine, iron, and water pump outside peak hours lowers the cost. NEPRA sets the peak times and they change with the season, so check your own bill. Our guide to peak and off-peak hours explains when they fall and how to use them.

Consider solar with net metering

Rooftop solar can cut the units you draw from the grid. The rules and the buyback rates for solar are set by NEPRA and have been changing, so check the current net metering or net billing policy before you invest.

Fix leaks and a faulty meter

Switch everything off and watch the meter; if it is still running, power is leaking or the meter may be at fault. A wiring leak or a fast meter quietly raises every bill. Our guide to a faulty or defective meter explains your rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I reduce my electricity bill in Pakistan?

Use fewer units and use them at cheaper times. The biggest savings come from the AC: set it around 24 to 26 degrees, service it, and use fans. Switch to LED bulbs, turn things off when not needed, and run heavy appliances in off-peak hours. NEPRA's own consumer service manual says savings of twenty to thirty percent are possible with little effort.

What uses the most electricity at home?

In most Pakistani homes the air conditioner is the single heaviest load, followed by water heating and other heavy appliances. Because the AC uses so much, small changes to it, such as a moderate thermostat setting and clean filters, save the most.

Does setting the AC to a higher temperature really save money?

Yes. Each degree cooler makes the AC work noticeably harder and use more power. Setting it around 24 to 26 degrees instead of very low keeps the room comfortable while cutting the running cost.

Do LED bulbs lower the electricity bill?

Yes. NEPRA's consumer service manual recommends efficient bulbs like LEDs, which give the same light as old bulbs while using much less electricity, so they cost less to run.

Does solar reduce my electricity bill?

Rooftop solar can cut the units you draw from the grid, but how much you save depends on the rules. The solar policy and buyback rates are set by NEPRA and have been changing, so check the current net metering or net billing policy before you decide.

How do I know if a fault is raising my bill?

Switch everything in the house off and look at the meter. If it is still running, power is leaking somewhere or the meter may be faulty, and either one quietly raises every bill. Report it to your company and have the meter checked.