Inverter vs Non-Inverter AC in Pakistan 2026: Real Monthly Bill Compared
A 1.5 ton inverter AC can save about Rs 8,800 a month at 2026 rates. See units, slab effects and…
Electricity
Protected vs Unprotected Electricity Consumer: The 200-Unit Rule Explained (2026)
Updated October 2026. One extra unit can cost you thousands of rupees. If your bill goes from 200 to 201 units, you lose the protected rate for the next six months. Here is exactly how the rule works under NEPRA’s 2026 tariff and how to stay on the right side of it.
Protected status checker → Enter your last six bills to see your status, when you’ll regain it, and your daily unit budget.What is a protected consumer?
A protected consumer is a residential customer whose bill was 200 units or less in each of the previous six months. Protected consumers pay much lower rates and also get the benefit of the previous slab.
| Units | Protected rate | Unprotected rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1–100 | Rs 10.54 | Rs 22.44 |
| 101–200 | Rs 13.01 | Rs 28.91 |
| 201–300 | — | Rs 33.10 (on all units) |
What it means in rupees
| Units / month | Protected bill | Unprotected bill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | Rs 2,208 | Rs 5,314 | Rs 3,106 |
| 200 | Rs 3,041 | Rs 7,085 | Rs 4,044 |
| 201 (just over) | — | Rs 8,114 | +Rs 5,073 vs protected 200 |
Energy charges with FCA Rs 1.11/unit and 18% GST; fixed charges excluded.
How you lose it, and how you get it back
- Lose it: one bill above 200 units. From the next bill you are charged unprotected rates, even if you drop below 200 again.
- Get it back: six bills in a row at 200 units or less. For example, if June was 230 units and every month after it stays at 200 or less, you become protected again from the January bill.
- Summer is when most homes lose it: one week of AC use in May or June can be enough.
How to stay under 200 units
- Read your meter every week and compare with the 200-unit budget (about 6.6 units a day in a 30-day month).
- Know your big loads: a 1.5-ton inverter AC uses about 1.1 units an hour; an iron about 1 unit an hour; a water pump about 0.75 units an hour.
- Switch to DC inverter fans and LED lights.
- Use solar for daytime loads: a small 1–2 kW system can keep many homes under 200.
- Use our AC cost calculator to see how many hours of AC fit in your budget.
FAQs
Does protected status apply to commercial connections? No, only residential (domestic) consumers.
Is the FCA charged to protected consumers? Yes. Only lifeline consumers (up to 100 units with 1 kW load) are exempt from FCA.
Will the slab system change? The government plans to move to a BISP-based targeted subsidy from January 2027. We will update this guide when NEPRA notifies the change.