A quick tour of the bill
Each company lays its bill out a little differently, but the same labelled blocks appear on all of them. The diagram numbers them in the order most people need: whose bill and for when, how much electricity was used, what it cost, and what to pay. The sections below take each block in turn.
- 1Account details. Reference No, tariff and load. Match them with an older bill before you pay.
- 2Dates. Bill month is the period billed, reading date is when the meter was read, and due date is the payment deadline.
- 3Meter readings. Present reading minus previous reading, times the multiplier (MF), gives the units billed.
- 4Company charges. The cost of those units, plus per-unit adjustments such as the fuel price adjustment.
- 5Government charges. Duty, fees and taxes collected through the bill, mostly worked out from the charges above.
- 6Arrears and adjustments. Unpaid amounts carried forward, or credits. A higher total can come from here rather than from more use.
- 7Amount payable. Pay the within-due-date amount on time. The after-due-date amount includes the late payment surcharge.
- 8Bill history. Units and amounts for past months. Compare with the same month last year, not only last month.
Billing month and due date
The billing month identifies the period the bill covers — it is not the same as the date the bill was printed or the date you retrieved the duplicate. The due date is the deadline for paying the amount shown as 'payable within due date'. A 'reading date' is a separate field that records when the meter was read; it is not a payment deadline. Always read the actual due date from the bill rather than assuming a fixed number of days from the reading date.
Units and meter readings
The readings table shows the meter number, the previous and present readings, a multiplier (MF) and the units billed. Units billed are the present reading minus the previous one, times the multiplier. The previous reading should match the present reading on your last bill; if it does not, or if a reading is marked as estimated, the meter readings guide explains what to check.
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Amount within and after the due date
Most electricity bills in Pakistan show two payable amounts: one for payment on or before the due date, and a higher one for payment after it. The difference covers a late payment surcharge, which is calculated at the time the bill is printed. Always confirm the currently applicable amount with the payment channel you use, especially if you are paying close to the deadline — a payment that arrives on the wrong side of midnight may use the later-payment figure.
Current charges, arrears and adjustments
A bill separates current charges (energy consumed in this billing period) from any arrears (previous unpaid balance) and adjustments (credits or corrections applied by the company). A higher total does not by itself mean the meter recorded more consumption — inspect each line separately. If an adjustment appears that you do not recognise, ask your distribution company to explain it with reference to the notification that authorised it.
Check account details before paying
Match the company acronym, reference number and account name against your physical bill and against what the payment app shows before confirming any transaction. If the account name or amount differs from what you expect, stop and contact your distribution company or the payment provider before proceeding. Recovering a misdirected payment is difficult and slow.
Common questions
What is the difference between the due date and the reading date on my bill?
The reading date is when the meter reader visited and recorded the meter reading. The due date is when payment is required. They are usually a week or more apart. The payment deadline is the due date, not the reading date.
My bill shows two different amounts — which one do I pay?
Pay the 'within due date' amount if you are paying on or before the printed due date. Pay the 'after due date' amount if you are paying after it. The difference is the late-payment surcharge. Check your payment app displays the same amount before confirming.
What does 'arrears' on my electricity bill mean?
Arrears is an unpaid balance from a previous billing period that has been carried forward. If the arrears figure seems wrong, request the previous bill from PITC using the same reference number to compare, or contact your distribution company.
Something inaccurate? Report a correction. Do not include private bill details.
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