MEPCO FCA September 2026: Rs2.37 Approved for November Bill
On 6 November 2026, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved a fuel charges adjustment (FCA) of Rs2.3673 per unit for September 2026. MEPCO consumers will pay it as a separate line on the November 2026 electricity bill, or on the December bill if their November bill was printed before the decision was notified.
The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) had asked for Rs2.5624 per unit. You can read about that Rs2.56 request in our earlier post. NEPRA cut it by 19.51 paisa per unit. The FCA is still an increase, but a smaller one than the request.
September 2026 FCA at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Decision date | 6 November 2026 |
| Approved FCA | Rs2.3673 per unit (kWh) |
| CPPA-G request | Rs2.5624 per unit |
| Applies to | MEPCO, all ex-WAPDA DISCOs and K-Electric |
| Calculated on | Units billed in September 2026 |
| Billing month | November 2026 (or the next month if already billed) |
| Exempt | Lifeline, EV charging stations, prepaid consumers |
Why NEPRA Approved Less Than CPPA-G Asked
CPPA-G filed its petition on 15 October 2026. It claimed an actual fuel cost of Rs10.0220 per unit against the reference fuel cost of Rs7.4596 set in the base tariff. NEPRA held the public hearing on 29 October 2026 at NEPRA Tower, Islamabad, with an online option.
After checking the data, the regulator fixed the actual fuel cost at Rs9.8268 per unit. The gap between Rs9.8268 and the reference Rs7.4596 is the approved Rs2.3673. The main cuts were:
- Plant-wise fuel costs: NEPRA disallowed about Rs10.3 billion after checking individual power plant claims against approved rates.
- Gas for RLNG plants: NEPRA provisionally applied a negative adjustment of Rs10.617 billion because some RLNG plants were run on cheaper local gas. CPPA-G must give full details in its next petition.
- Transmission losses: NEPRA capped losses on the 500kV and 220kV network at the approved 2.50%.
Net positive adjustments from previous months, about Rs5.76 billion, were added back. This is why the cut was smaller than the deductions alone suggest.
What Raised Fuel Costs in September
Pakistan generated 13.22 billion units in September, slightly above the 13.09 billion units assumed in the reference. The bigger issue was the generation mix:
- Imported coal produced 2.16 billion units against 1.14 billion in the reference, and its fuel cost rose from Rs11.78 to Rs17.23 per unit.
- Hydel (4.83 billion units) and nuclear (1.89 billion units) both came in below plan. These are among the cheapest sources.
- High-speed diesel plants ran for 0.21 billion units although none were planned, at about Rs62 per unit.
- RLNG generation fell from 1.48 to 0.80 billion units.
When cheap hydel and nuclear output falls and costly coal and diesel fill the gap, the fuel cost per unit rises. Consumers then pay the difference through the FCA.
How Much Will It Add to Your MEPCO Bill?
The formula is simple: units billed in September 2026 × Rs2.3673. Take the units from your September bill, not your November bill.
| Units on September bill | FCA amount (before tax) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Rs236.73 |
| 200 | Rs473.46 |
| 300 | Rs710.19 |
| 500 | Rs1,183.65 |
Sales tax is charged on top of the FCA, so the final figure on your bill will be somewhat higher than the amounts above. A 300-unit household pays about Rs58.53 less, before tax, than it would have under the full Rs2.5624 request.
November or December Bill?
NEPRA has directed DISCOs to show the September FCA in the November 2026 billing month. MEPCO’s November bills are issued in batches, though, and many were printed before the 6 November notification. NEPRA’s decision allows the charge to move to the following month in those cases.
So if your November bill has no FCA line for September, it is not a waiver. Expect it on the December 2026 bill. It should appear only once, so check that it is not charged twice.
December bills may also carry the October 2026 FCA, which will be decided separately, and any new quarterly adjustment. See our post on the Q3 QTA hearing for that part of the picture.
Who Does Not Pay This FCA
According to NEPRA’s notification, the September FCA does not apply to:
- Lifeline consumers
- Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS)
- Prepaid consumers of any category who have opted for the prepaid tariff
Protected domestic consumers are not on this list, so they will be charged the FCA. Units billed under the Incremental Consumption Package for industrial and agricultural users are also covered. Under the federal government’s uniform tariff policy, K-Electric consumers pay the same Rs2.3673 per unit.
What MEPCO Consumers Should Do
- Find your September units. Download your September 2026 duplicate bill using your 14-digit reference number and note the units billed.
- Check the FCA line. Multiply those units by 2.3673 and compare with the FCA amount on your November or December bill.
- Report errors. If the FCA is charged on the wrong units, charged twice, or charged on a lifeline or prepaid connection, call the 118 helpline or visit your MEPCO subdivision office with both bills.
FAQs
Is the FCA added to my base tariff permanently?
No. It is a one-time charge for September 2026 consumption. Each month’s FCA is decided separately.
Why is it calculated on September units when the bill is for November?
Fuel cost data takes about a month to compile, and NEPRA reviews it at a public hearing. The charge always runs about two months behind the consumption month.
Does this FCA apply to solar net metering users?
NEPRA’s notification lists only lifeline, EVCS and prepaid consumers as exempt. For net metering and net billing users, the FCA applies to the units billed.
