LESCO Commercial Electricity Rates in 2026: Unit Price, TOU & Charges

The rapid rise in electricity costs in Pakistan is putting businesses under pressure, especially in the Punjab LESCO area, as they contribute significantly to national development through these commercial setups.

Managing and controlling electricity consumption is challenging, whether you run a small shop or a large commercial setup. If you know the LESCO commercial unit price, it will help a lot in planning and reducing the power consumption.

In this guide, we’ll go through the latest LESCO business electricity tariff, how you can calculate the LESCO bill, and see the factors affecting electricity cost for businesses in Lahore in 2026.

What is the Current LESCO Commercial Unit Price in 2026?

LESCO commercial electricity unit price ranges from Rs. 45 to Rs. 52 per KWH, depending on load category, meter type, and peak/off-peak usage.

Commercial, in simple terms, refers to power connections used by businesses, such as small shops, offices, factories, or any organization that generates income by utilizing electricity. And the term commercial unit price means the electricity cost per unit for businesses.

There are variations in the LESCO commercial unit price in 2026 that depend on the load category, meter type, and time of use. Under the most recent NEPRA-approved tariff, commercial consumers pay both fixed charges and variable charges depending on monthly power consumption.

Category	Fixed Charges Monthly	Variable Charges per unit (kWh)	Sanctioned Load
Commercial A2 (a)	Rs. 200 – 400	Rs. 45.00 – 48.50	Less than 5kW
Commercial A2 (b)	Rs. 500	Rs. 47.00 – 49.50	5kW and above
Time of Use (TOU)	Rs. 500	Peak: Rs. 52.00 Off-Peak: Rs. 39.00	5kW and above

Note: Always visit the official NEPRA and LESCO websites for detailed and error-free information.

What Factors Affect the LESCO Commercial Unit Price?

The LESCO bill comprises various factors beyond the cost per unit that influence your final electricity bill.

• Fixed Charges: A fixed amount paid monthly based on the sanctioned load (the approved power capacity you can use) and the meter type.
• Variable Charges: This is the cost per unit consumed that varies based on consumption slabs and time-of-use (TOU) during off-peak and peak hours.
• Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA): It changes every month based on how much fuel costs rise or fall.
• Taxes & Surcharges: It includes various taxes, such as GST and income tax, TV licensing fees, and financing adjustments.
• Regulatory Decisions: NEPRA frequently revises tariffs based on national costs and passes them on to consumers through LESCO.

In short, even if the LESCO unit rate commercial load remains the same, FPA and fixed charges still cause your bill to change every month. And you can estimate the electricity costs for your business in Lahore by carefully considering these factors.

Note: Rates are subject to quarterly tariff adjustments (QTA) and FPA.

How to Calculate Your Monthly Bill as a Commercial Consumer?

Here’s a simple formula to estimate your monthly commercial electricity bill:

Total Bill = (Units Consumed × per unit rate) + Fixed Charges + FPA + Taxes

You can calculate your commercial electricity bill using the following example.

Let’s consider that

• Load: Less than 5 kW
• Units Consumed: 950
• Rate: Rs. 47 per unit
• Fixed Charge: Rs. 300
• FPA: Rs. 1.50 per unit

So, your estimated electricity bill will be:
Estimated Bill = (950 × 47) + 300 + (950 × 1.50) = Rs. 46,375

This estimate does not include GST and other surcharges, which can increase the final bill by 15–20%.

Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Estimating LESCO Commercial Bills

Some common pitfalls that should be avoided while calculating the bill are:

• Ignoring Fixed Charges: Most people think the bill depends just on how much power they consume. But actually, LESCO adds a fixed monthly charge based on your approved load, so you’re charged whether you use any electricity or not.
• Misunderstanding Slabs: Business rates aren’t set up the same way as domestic slabs. When you cross a certain use level, the new price only kicks in for extra power used after that point; it never gets charged back on what came before.
• Misinterpreting ‘Time of Use’ (TOU) Billing: Some A2 users think that TOU is just a discount or special tariff. But in reality, it’s two different unit rates, one for peak hours, which is more expensive, and one for off-peak hours, which is cheaper. Mixing up how you add them might mess up your cost guess.
• Overlooking Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA): FPAs may vary month to month according to fuel prices. Relying on an outdated rate might give you an inaccurate estimate, leaving you out by several hundred or even thousands of rupees.
• Not Considering Taxes and Surcharges: GST, TV licence costs, and financing surcharges might boost your bill by 15–20%. Remember to factor them in while planning for electricity expenses.

What Changes Businesses Should Expect in the Near Future?

Based on NEPRA’s estimation, along with current market trends:

• Fuel prices, along with currency fluctuations, continue to shape how FPAs change over time.
• Businesses and commercial users might get rewards for using less power.
• Smart meters, along with time-of-use pricing, might expand throughout Lahore.

Businesses need to monitor rate changes, cut power use when demand is low, and invest in efficient machines that save energy over time. So, they should budget for high energy costs and consider energy-efficient strategies or fixed-rate deals to mitigate the impact of price volatility in the coming years.

FAQs

What is ‘commercial load’ vs. ‘domestic load’ in LESCO terms?

Commercial load is the electricity consumption related to businesses or commercial users. In contrast, domestic load is the electrical consumption of homes or residential users.

Does the unit price change if I have a three-phase vs. a single-phase connection?

Yes, due to changes in fixed or variable charges, the unit price between a three-phase and a single-phase connection can differ.

Is there a difference between LESCO commercial and industrial unit rates?

Yes. LESCO industrial unit rates are generally lower than commercial rates because industries operate on higher sanctioned loads and different NEPRA tariff structures, while commercial consumers pay higher per-unit charges with stricter peak-hour pricing.

What is the “Time of Use” tariff, and how does it apply?

A Time-of-Use (TOU) tariff charges different unit rates for peak and off-peak hours. Peak hours cost more, off-peak hours are cheaper, and a smart meter is usually required to apply it.

How often are tariffs revised?

NEPRA determines the annual tariff and also revises it quarterly or monthly through quarterly tariff adjustments (QTAs) due to the fuel price variations.

Where can I find the official notification/document for the tariff changes?

The official notification or document for the tariff changes can be found on the official LESCO or NEPRA Tariff Notification websites.

Conclusion

• The LESCO commercial unit price in 2026 ranges from Rs. 45 to nearly Rs. 52 per kilowatt-hour.
• The LESCO bill for commercials covers fixed charges, consumed unit charges, FPAs, and taxes.
• FPAs, along with regulatory updates, also influence the costs.
• Managing energy consumption effectively and optimizing TOU rates can reduce business costs.

Businesses that actively track tariff updates, manage peak-hour usage, and invest in energy-efficient equipment can significantly control their LESCO commercial electricity costs in 2026.