The federal government has rolled out the ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading’ system through the newly launched Power Smart App, aiming to make electricity billing more transparent and give consumers a stronger role in the process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially launched the app, which lets users upload a photo of their electricity meter on a specified date each month. The monthly bill is then generated based on the reading submitted directly by the consumer.
According to the Power Division, this system is expected to greatly reduce common issues such as overbilling, human errors in meter reading, and unnecessary interventions, while also cutting down on customer complaints. It is seen as a practical governance reform that puts more control in the hands of consumers.
If a consumer uploads the meter reading on the assigned date, this reading will override any later reading taken by a meter reader, ensuring that only the consumer’s reading is used for billing.
This system is especially valuable for low-consumption users who qualify for government electricity subsidies. For instance, households using up to 200 units typically receive a bill of around Rs. 2,330. However, if usage slightly exceeds this limit by even one unit, the subsidy is lost, and the bill can jump to roughly Rs. 8,104.
By allowing users to submit accurate and timely readings, the Power Smart App helps these consumers avoid losing their subsidies and keep their bills affordable.
