Electricity has become more expensive for households across the country as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed fixed charges on both protected and non-protected domestic consumers, including those using up to 300 units per month.

Nepra issued its decision on the request of the Power Division, extending fixed charges to consumption slabs that were previously exempt.

Earlier, fixed charges mainly applied to non-protected consumers using more than 300 units.

Under the new structure, protected consumers using up to 100 units per month will pay a fixed charge of Rs200, while those consuming up to 200 units will be charged Rs300 per month.

For non-protected consumers, Nepra has set fixed charges at Rs275 for monthly consumption up to 100 units and Rs300 for up to 200 units.

Non-protected consumers using up to 300 units will now pay Rs350 as fixed charges.

According to the notification, fixed charges for non-protected consumers using 301 to 400 units have been increased by Rs200 to Rs400.

For consumption between 401 and 500 units, fixed charges have been raised by Rs100 to Rs500.

Nepra has increased fixed charges for 600-unit consumers by Rs75 to Rs675.

For consumers using up to 700 units, fixed charges have been reduced by Rs125 to Rs675, while for those consuming more than 700 units, fixed charges have been reduced by Rs325 to Rs675.

Nepra stated that the fixed charges would apply to both protected and non-protected categories nationwide.

In its decision, the regulator said electricity tariffs for industrial consumers had been reduced by Rs4.40 per unit.

Domestic consumers using between 301 and 400 units per month will also get relief of Rs1.53 per unit.

Sources said the federal government would issue the final notification of the revised electricity tariffs in the coming days.