The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved uniform Use of System Charges (UoSC) for open-access bulk electricity consumers, allowing eligible users to choose their power suppliers in a major step towards a more competitive electricity market. The regulator approved uniform grid charges ranging from Rs6.23 to Rs19.62 per unit, depending on consumer category, for users opting for open access through the competitive wheeling auction process under the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM).

The charges include transmission, distribution and cross-subsidy components, plus a fixed grid charge of Rs1 per kilowatt per month based on sanctioned load. For consumers taking open access without participating in the competitive auction, Nepra approved additional stranded-cost charges. Total variable UoSC for these consumers ranges from Rs19.17 to Rs32.56 per unit, depending on category. The stranded-cost component is Rs12.94 per kWh at 11 kV and Rs16.35 per kWh at 132/66 kV.

Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari welcomed the decision, calling the UoSC determination a historic milestone and the final critical regulatory step needed to operationalise open access under CTBCM. He said it clears the way for issuance of the request for proposals for Pakistan's first CTBCM auction. Leghari said competitive procurement would give eligible industrial consumers the ability to bilaterally purchase electricity from their chosen suppliers instead of being restricted to their distribution companies.

Nepra has directed the XW-Discos to immediately submit UoSC petitions based on the 2026 determined tariffs, while the federal government must notify the decision in the official Gazette within the statutory period.