Pakistan’s average electricity-generation fuel cost rose to Rs10.022 per unit in September 2026 from Rs7.29 a year earlier, a 37.48% increase, according to Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) figures reported by Dawn on 17 October. Electricity consumption rose about 4% from September 2025, showing that the cost jump was substantially larger than the change in demand.
Why costs rose
The fuel mix shifted towards more expensive generation as liquefied natural gas supply constraints and nuclear maintenance affected output. Imported coal generation rose to 2,155 gigawatt-hours (GWh), from 1,019 GWh a year earlier, increasing its share to 16.3% from about 8%. Imported-coal generation cost Rs17.24 per unit, compared with Rs13.74 a year earlier.
High-speed diesel generation reached about 213 GWh at a reported fuel cost of Rs62.14 per unit. Regasified LNG generation fell to about 804 GWh from 1,815 GWh, while nuclear output declined to 1,893 GWh from 2,227 GWh.
What it means for consumers
The CPPA sought an additional fuel-cost adjustment of approximately Rs2.5624 per unit. That is a request, not evidence that the regulator has approved a corresponding charge. Any impact on consumer bills depends on the regulator’s decision and applicable tariff rules.
The September fuel-cost figure is not the same as the full retail electricity tariff, which can include capacity payments, distribution charges, taxes and other adjustments. Hydropower supplied roughly 37% of generation at no fuel cost, but its contribution did not prevent the average fuel cost from rising.
Sources: Dawn, 17 October 2026.