LAHORE – Authorities in Lahore started a crackdown on consumers suspected of misusing protected electricity tariff system by installing multiple single-phase electricity meters to stay within 200-unit monthly limit.
The move, led by Lahore Electric Supply Company, aims to ensure that only genuinely eligible households continue receiving subsidized rates. With QR-based verification and data tracking now in place, consumers found violating the rules are expected to lose their subsidy benefits and face higher electricity bills.
The crackdown will start in electricity billing as authorities launch strict crackdown on households allegedly exploiting a loophole in protected tariff system by installing more than one single-phase electricity meter to stay under 200-unit subsidy threshold.
Power distribution companies, including Lahore Electric Supply Company LESCO started wide-ranging nationwide investigation aimed at identifying consumers who may be artificially splitting electricity usage across multiple meters to continue benefiting from subsidized “protected category” rates.
Officials said a comprehensive digital database is now being developed to track such consumers. Once verified, households found using this strategy will immediately lose their protected status and be shifted into the non-subsidized tariff category, an adjustment that could sharply increase monthly bills, with estimates suggesting an additional burden of around Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 per month for affected users.
To tighten oversight, electricity bills are now being upgraded with QR codes, allowing authorities to quickly verify consumer records and detect whether additional meters are being used to manipulate consumption figures. Officials have also warned that failure to complete QR-based verification or provide required data could itself lead to cancellation of subsidy eligibility.
At the same time, power companies started printing exact subsidy amount directly on electricity bills, a move designed to expose the level of government relief each household is receiving and improve transparency in the billing system.
Once verification phase is completed, authorities plan to permanently remove subsidized tariffs for anyone found misusing multiple meters to remain in the protected category. Officials call this drive one of the most aggressive anti-misuse campaigns in the power sector in recent years, with the potential to affect thousands of households across Pakistan currently benefiting from reduced electricity rates.
LESCO consumers pay nine different charges, taxes on 228-unit bill
