ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially launched the “Power Smart” app, introducing a new feature called ‘My Meter, My Reading’ that aims to solve issues like overbilling, delayed readings, and human error.
According to a statement by the Power Division, this feature allows users to take a photo of their electricity meter on a specified date and upload it through the app. Their monthly electricity bill will then be based on this uploaded reading.
If users submit their readings on time, the app will prioritize the customer-provided reading over that of the meter reader. In cases where both the consumer and the meter reader upload readings, the lower reading will be considered to protect the consumer’s interests.
This system is particularly beneficial for subsidized users, such as those consuming up to 200 electricity units per month. These users typically pay around Rs2,330, but a single extra unit can cancel the subsidy, increasing the bill to as much as Rs8,104.
Moreover, officials say the app will help consumers closely monitor their electricity usage while also playing a role in maintaining transparency in the power sector. The goal is to ensure that eligible users can continue benefiting from government subsidies through timely readings.
The Power Division emphasized that this new feature empowers users to manage their own billing and adds transparency to the system. The initiative is also expected to reduce the burden on meter readers, some of whom have recently refused to conduct readings due to public backlash over billing issues.