How many units (kWh) does a 1-ton ac use per month?

Running 8 hours a day at 1,100 W, a 1-ton ac consumes about 264 units per month — that's 8.8 units per day.

How much does it cost per month on the 200-unit slab?

On the Unprotected 101–200 unit slab (Rs. 22.95/unit) the energy charge alone is about Rs. 6059. Add ~Rs. 792 for FPA + QTA and 18% GST on top.

Is a 1-ton ac cheaper to run on protected tariff?

Yes — at Rs. 11.69/unit (protected slab 1–100 units) the same 264 units cost only Rs. 3086, roughly half. But qualifying requires staying under 200 units total for 6 months, which is hard when this appliance alone uses 264 units.

Does running it during off-peak hours save money?

Only if you have a Time-of-Use (TOU) meter — typically 3-phase domestic, commercial A-2 or industrial B-2. On a flat single-phase domestic meter the tariff is the same 24 hours. See your DISCO's peak-hours page for exact windows.

Will solar make this appliance free to run?

Solar cuts the daytime portion of this load to nearly zero. Under the 2026 net-billing regime, exported units are worth Rs. 11–13 vs Rs. 27–42 for units you self-consume — so timing the appliance to run in daylight matters far more than it did on old net-metering.

1,100 W · 8 h/day typical

1-ton AC electricity cost in Pakistan (2026)

A modern 1-ton inverter AC pulls about 1.1 kW when the compressor is running. In Pakistan's summer that adds Rs. 8,000–19,000 per month to your bill depending on your DISCO slab.

How much energy does a 1-ton ac use?

Timeframe	Energy used	Notes
Per hour	1.10 kWh	Steady-state draw
Per day	8.80 kWh	8 hours of runtime
Per month	264 kWh	Full month at daily duty cycle
Per year	1320 kWh	5-month season

Note: the 1-ton ac briefly pulls 2,400 W during compressor start-up. Sustained draw settles at 1,100 W within ~30 seconds. Sizing a UPS or solar inverter must account for the surge.

Cost per slab — NEPRA Unprotected Residential (FY 2025–26)

Slab	Rs./unit	Per hour	Per day	Per month
1–100 units	16.48	Rs. 18.13	Rs. 145	Rs. 4351
101–200 units	22.95	Rs. 25.25	Rs. 202	Rs. 6059
201–300 units	27.14	Rs. 29.85	Rs. 239	Rs. 7165
301–400 units	32.03	Rs. 35.23	Rs. 282	Rs. 8456
401–500 units	35.24	Rs. 38.76	Rs. 310	Rs. 9303
501–600 units	36.66	Rs. 40.33	Rs. 323	Rs. 9678
601–700 units	37.80	Rs. 41.58	Rs. 333	Rs. 9979
Above 700 units	42.72	Rs. 46.99	Rs. 376	Rs. 11278

Energy charge only. Add ~Rs. 792/month for FPA + QTA at typical rates, then 18% GST on the total. Electricity duty and PTV fee are also stacked — see the full electricity bill calculator for the complete tax pass-through.

Protected consumers (≤200 units, 6-month rule)

Slab	Rs./unit	Per month cost
1–100 units	11.69	Rs. 3086
101–200 units	14.16	Rs. 3738

Check your Protected consumer eligibility — the ≤200 unit rule is strict and one bad month resets the 6-month counter.

Cut the running cost

Set the thermostat to 26°C — every 1°C lower adds ~6% to the compressor's kWh.
Service the outdoor coil before summer; a dirty condenser raises running watts by 15–25%.
Use ceiling fans with the AC — you can raise the setpoint by 2°C and still feel the same.
Close curtains during 11 am – 4 pm; direct sun through a single window can add 400 W of heat load.

Fine print

Inverter models modulate between ~350 W and 1,400 W; non-inverter units cycle full-on at ~1,300 W. Assume 1,100 W steady-state for a typical 1-ton inverter after 20 minutes of runtime.

Frequently asked questions

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