Meter readings and the units on your bill
Units consumed is the one line on your bill that reflects what you actually did, rather than what policy did. Everything else — rates, adjustments, taxes — is applied on top of it. This page covers where the figure comes from and how to sanity-check it.
Short answer
Your units are the current reading minus the previous reading, both printed in the consumption block of the bill. One unit is one kilowatt-hour: a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour.
To see your own readings, open your bill.
Working out your consumption
- Find the two readingsThe consumption block sits in the middle of the sheet, with the previous and current readings side by side and the reading dates beside them.
- SubtractPrevious 41,250 and current 41,600 gives 350 units for the cycle. That is the figure the slab rate is applied to.
- Check for a multiplierSome connections — mostly commercial and industrial — carry a multiplier factor (MF) printed on the bill, and the difference is multiplied by it. On domestic meters it is normally 1, so the plain subtraction is the whole calculation.
- Compare against last monthCompare units, never the rupee total. The total moves for reasons unrelated to you; units are the part you control.
What the consumption lines mean
| Line | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Previous reading | What the meter showed when it was last read — the starting point for this cycle. |
| Current reading | What it showed at this cycle's reading. Should be higher than the previous. |
| Units consumed | The difference between the two, times any multiplier. Measured in kWh. |
| Reading dates | The actual period covered. A longer gap than usual means more days of usage in one bill. |
| Estimated marker | A code or flag meaning the meter was not physically read this cycle and the figure was calculated instead. |
Estimated readings
When a meter reader cannot get access, your DISCO estimates the figure instead of leaving the cycle unbilled. It is not an error and it self-corrects: the next actual reading picks up the true total, so an estimated month that looks high is often followed by a low one, or the reverse. What matters is whether the pattern keeps repeating — several estimated cycles in a row is worth a call to your DISCO, because it means nobody is reaching your meter.
Why units rise
Season is the biggest factor across most of Pakistan — cooling load in summer, water heating in winter in the cooler districts. After that: a billing period covering extra days, more people at home, a new appliance, or an old one failing and drawing more than it should. If units are flat but your bill still climbed, the cause is on the charges side rather than consumption, and the bill amount guide walks through that.
Common questions
What does 'units consumed' actually mean?
A unit is one kilowatt-hour (kWh) — the amount of electricity a 1,000-watt appliance uses running for one hour. Ten 100-watt bulbs on for an hour is one unit. It is the single most important number on your bill, because it decides both what you are charged for and which slab rate gets applied to you.
Where do I find the meter readings on my bill?
In the consumption block, usually the middle of the sheet. You will see a previous reading and a current reading printed next to each other, with the resulting units alongside. The reading dates are printed there too, which tells you exactly what period the bill covers.
How are my units calculated from the two readings?
Current reading minus previous reading. If the previous was 41,250 and the current is 41,600, that is 350 units for the cycle. Some connections — mostly commercial and industrial — have a multiplier factor (MF) printed on the bill, and the difference is multiplied by it. Domestic meters normally have a multiplier of 1, so the plain subtraction is the whole calculation.
How do I compare this month with last month?
Compare the units figure, not the rupee total. The total moves for reasons that have nothing to do with you — FPA changes monthly, taxes and surcharges shift with policy. Units are the only line that reflects what you actually used. If units are flat but the total climbed, the cause is on the charges side of the bill, not your consumption.
What is an estimated reading, and how do I spot one?
It is a figure your DISCO calculated instead of physically reading the meter — typically because the meter reader could not get access. Bills usually flag it with a marker or code near the reading. It is not an error in itself and it corrects on its own: the next actual reading catches up the difference, so an estimated month that looks high is often followed by a low one, or the reverse.
Why are my units higher than last month?
Usually load and season rather than anything unusual. Cooling in summer is the single biggest driver in most of Pakistan, water heating in winter in the cooler districts. Longer billing periods matter too — a cycle covering a few extra days shows more units. Beyond that, a new appliance, more people at home, or a failing appliance drawing more than it should will all show up here.
How do I check whether my meter reading is correct?
Go and read the meter yourself, then compare that figure with the current reading printed on the bill. Your reading should be equal to or higher than the billed one — you have used more electricity in the days since the meter was read. If the number on your meter is clearly lower than what the bill claims, that is a genuine discrepancy worth raising.
My reading is wrong. What do I do about it?
Write down both figures — what your meter shows today, with the date, and what the bill claims — and take that to your DISCO through the helpline on the bill, or your subdivision office if a meter inspection is needed. Only your DISCO can correct a reading or open a dispute. This site shows exactly what PITC returns and has no ability to change it.
Can I track my consumption over several months?
Only by keeping the bills yourself. PITC does not expose a consumption history, so no lookup tool can chart it for you. Saving the PDF each month and noting the units figure builds a record that makes an unusual month obvious immediately — and it is genuinely worth doing if you are trying to bring usage down or expect to dispute a reading later.