Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has approved a sharp increase in fees for single phase electricity connections, adding to the cost for new consumers.
According to reports, the decision was made during a meeting where several LESCO officials opposed the proposed hike. However, the chairman and board members went ahead and gave their approval.
Under the revised structure, all applicants will have to pay the updated charges.
The fee for a single phase connection has been raised from Rs6,400 to Rs21,300. This includes Rs17,700 for a new meter and cable, along with Rs3,660 as security charges. Applicants will also have to pay contractor fees and other expenses separately.
LESCO operates in five districts of Punjab including Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Kasur. The company provides electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers across these areas as a government-owned distribution utility.
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Electricity bills across the country have gone up after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) changed the system for fixed charges from usage-based to load-based calculation.
This new system, effective from January 2026, applies charges based on the connected load instead of monthly consumption. Earlier, only consumers using more than 300 units were charged fixed fees ranging between Rs200 and Rs1,000.
With the revised formula, domestic users now face fixed charges between Rs200 and Rs675 per kW each month. For example, a household with a 5 kW connection may pay between Rs1,000 and Rs3,375 depending on the load and slab. Lifeline users, however, remain exempt. The change was approved by NEPRA following a request from the federal government.