Govt waives August bills for power consumers in flood-hit areas

Waives Rs11b of domestic consumers, defers Rs6b for commercial, agricultural users

The federal government has waived electricity bills for domestic consumers in flood-affected areas for the month of August, while bills for commercial and agricultural users have been deferred until December, according to sources in the Power Division.

The sources confirmed that all categories of domestic consumers in flood-hit regions will not be required to pay their August bills. For those who had already paid their bills, the amount has been adjusted in the bills of the following months.

Meanwhile, commercial and agricultural consumers will have their August bills deferred until December 2025. From January to June next year, these consumers will be allowed to pay the deferred amounts in six monthly installments.

According to official data, the relief package amounts to a total of Rs17 billion. Of the amount, Rs11 billion worth of bills for domestic users have been waived, while the payment of Rs6 billion in dues for commercial and agricultural users has been deferred.

Overall, the government has provided financial relief to around 2.5 million consumers in flood-affected regions.

Sources further said that domestic consumers who had already paid their August bills have received refund adjustments in the current billing cycle, whereas commercial and agricultural users have been given four-month relief.

From January to June 2026, a fixed portion of their deferred bills will be added to their monthly statements. Officials stated that the decision was made to ease the financial burden on households and businesses impacted by recent floods.

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a special relief package for flood-affected communities. The package specifically includes the waiver of electricity bills of domestic consumers for the month of August.

In a brief televised address to the nation, the prime minister said, the federal government would bear the cost of payments on behalf of households.

“We fully understand the hardship of flood victims. This payment is not a favour but their right,” he said, adding that those who had already paid their August bills would have the amount adjusted in the next months' bills.

Shehbaz said, clear instructions have been issued to power distribution companies to ensure immediate implementation. He added that assessments were under way to calculate the losses and liabilities of agricultural, commercial, and industrial sectors in the affected areas.

“The recovery of their bills has been suspended for now. If the estimates for these sectors turn out to be higher, the government will take additional steps to provide relief,” he said.