MEPCO Tariff Change: Domestic to Commercial
Last checked 26 September 2026
A MEPCO home connection that starts serving a shop needs a tariff change from domestic A-1 to commercial A-2: MEPCO's FAQ says the change is needed, and NEPRA's tariff for MEPCO lists shops under A-2. Apply at least 30 days ahead with a wiring test report, a clear last bill, an attested CNIC copy and a new power supply contract, and pay the security deposit difference. Using a home connection for business without changing it is misuse of tariff, which can bring disconnection and a charge for the difference.
When does a MEPCO connection need a tariff change?
A tariff change is needed when a connection is used for a purpose other than the one it was sanctioned for, such as a domestic A-1 connection used for commercial A-2 purposes (NEPRA Consumer Service Manual, clause 7.5.1). It is one of the MEPCO consumer service requests made on the standard application form.
MEPCO's FAQ answers the most common case directly: a home that opens a shop needs to change its tariff. The same answer adds that a change is made only on a live connection and where it is technically feasible. The table shows what NEPRA's tariff for MEPCO places under each general supply category.
| Tariff | Covers |
|---|---|
| A-1 Residential | Residences and places of worship |
| A-2 Commercial | Shops, flower nurseries and cold storage; hotels, hostels and restaurants; petrol pumps, service stations and CNG stations; private hospitals, clinics and dispensaries; cinemas, theatres and clubs; guest houses and rest houses; offices of lawyers and consultants; electric vehicle charging stations |
| A-3 General services | Approved religious and charitable institutions; government and semi-government offices; government hospitals and dispensaries; educational institutions; water supply schemes other than irrigation |
If your use now fits a different row from the tariff on your bill, apply for the change before the new use starts.
Which tariff changes are allowed?
NEPRA's manual allows changes between residential A-1, commercial A-2 and general services A-3 in any direction, plus a few industrial switches (clause 7.4.1). The permitted changes are:
- A-1, A-2 and A-3 to one another, for example A-1 to A-2 when a shop opens, or A-2 back to A-1 when it closes;
- commercial to industrial B-1 or B-2, and back;
- seasonal industrial to non-seasonal, and back;
- tube-well to industrial, although an industrial connection cannot become a tube-well connection until a year after it was energised.
Four conditions apply to every change: the connection sanctioning officer allows it, no dues are outstanding, the security deposit is paid at current rates less the deposit already paid, and a new power supply contract is signed (clause 7.4.2).
How to apply for a tariff change
Apply at least 30 days before you need the change, to the load sanctioning officer, on the standard application form with change of tariff ticked (clauses 7.4.3 and 7.4.4).
- Clear your dues. A change is allowed only when nothing is outstanding, and the last paid bill must show no arrears, deferred amount or instalments.
- Get a wiring test report from the Electric Inspector or an authorised wiring contractor.
- Submit the application through Request for Change of Attributes in the MEPCO SMART app, which covers the owner name, load or tariff of an existing connection, or at a customer facilitation centre or sub-division. Attach the test report, a copy of the last paid bill and an attested copy of your CNIC.
- Pay the demand notice for the security deposit difference and any capital cost the change needs; paying a MEPCO demand notice safely covers the channels to use.
- Sign a new power supply contract on Rs 50 non-judicial stamp paper.
- Watch your bill. MEPCO is to approve the change within 30 days of receiving the application (clause 7.4.5) and make it within ten days of all requirements being met; after those ten days, the bill is charged pro rata for the new tariff (clause 2.15).
No approved map, site plan or NOC from a civic agency is needed for a change of tariff, unless a court has restricted connections in the area (clause 2.3.6).
What a tariff change costs
MEPCO's FAQ lists four possible costs for a domestic connection that becomes a shop:
- any benefit or subsidy you received on the service connection cost when it was installed under the current tariff;
- the material needed to make the change;
- the difference in security deposit at the current rate;
- an assessment bill for unauthorised use, if you had already started using the connection under the other tariff before applying.
The deposit difference is easy to work out. For a 2 kW urban connection, the commercial deposit is 2 x Rs 1,810 = Rs 3,620; against a domestic deposit of 2 x Rs 1,220 = Rs 2,440, you pay Rs 1,180 more, if the old deposit was paid at today's rate. All categories are listed under security deposit rates for each MEPCO tariff.
The monthly bill changes more than the deposit. The table compares 300 units on a 2 kW connection at the rates in force since February 2026, using energy and fixed charges only, before fuel and quarterly adjustments and taxes:
| Charge | Domestic A-1 (un-protected) | Commercial A-2 (below 5 kW) |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per unit | Rs 33.10 (201-300 unit slab) | Rs 37.44 |
| Energy, 300 units | Rs 9,930 | Rs 11,232 |
| Fixed charge | Rs 700 (2 kW x Rs 350) | Rs 1,000 per consumer |
| Total before adjustments and taxes | Rs 10,630 | Rs 12,232 |
In this example the commercial tariff costs Rs 1,602 more a month. The full list, including time-of-use rates, is in MEPCO commercial tariff rates for 2026. A commercial connection of 5 kW or more moves to a time-of-use meter on tariff A-2(c), so a shop that needs more power may also need a sanctioned load extension from MEPCO.
What happens if you run a business on a home connection?
Running a shop or other business on a domestic connection is misuse of tariff, and the CSM makes the consumer liable to disconnection and legal action (clauses 7.5.1 and 8.1).
When MEPCO finds misuse, it serves seven clear days' notice, changes the tariff immediately and works out the difference in charges for the period of misuse. Without documentary proof of how long the misuse lasted, that period is limited to two billing cycles (clause 7.5.2). On the example above, two billing cycles of difference come to 2 x Rs 1,602 = Rs 3,204 before adjustments and taxes. MEPCO's FAQ calls it an assessment bill for the unauthorised use; the guide to how MEPCO detection bills are worked out and disputed covers this misuse charge alongside other back-charges.
Applying before the use changes keeps that charge off the list: MEPCO's FAQ applies the assessment bill only where the use changed first.
If MEPCO put you on the wrong tariff
Applying the correct tariff at the time of sanction is MEPCO's responsibility. If MEPCO applied a lower tariff than the correct one, it cannot debit you a differential bill; if it charged a higher tariff, you get credit for six months back from the date you point out the mistake (clause 7.6).
Charges that MEPCO skipped, including applying the correct tariff category, can be raised only within one year and for no more than six months back. They must come as a supplementary bill that shows the reason, amount, period and taxes (clause 7.5.5). After any change, check the tariff shown on your next bill through the MEPCO bill lookup by reference number.
Sources: NEPRA Consumer Service Manual with amendments and clarifications as on 26 November 2025, circulated by MEPCO on 28 November 2025 (clauses 2.3, 2.10, 2.15, 7.4-7.6, 8.1 and 10.3; Annexures I, II and IV); NEPRA determination of MEPCO's supply tariff, 7 January 2026 (A-1, A-2 and A-3 definitions); NEPRA decision of 11 February 2026 (GoP applicable rates); MEPCO FAQ and mobile app pages (mepco.com.pk). Checked 26 September 2026.