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Is your bill actually wrong, or just high?
This distinction matters enormously for how you respond. Most people who feel overbilled have simply had a high-consumption month that pushed them across the 200-unit protected threshold — which produces a bill that feels dramatically higher than it should, but is technically correct given how the slab system works. Before assuming your bill has an error, spend 5 minutes on this:
- Check your units consumed — look at the "Present Reading" minus "Previous Reading" on the bill
- Confirm your protected/unprotected status on the same bill
- Run your actual unit count through the bill calculator
- Compare the calculator result against your actual bill
If they're within 5% of each other, your bill is almost certainly correct and the issue is the 200-unit threshold, a higher FPA this month, or a QTA adjustment — all of which are legitimate charges, not errors. If there's a significant gap that the calculator can't explain, you likely have a genuine overbilling situation worth pursuing.
The most common causes of actual overbilling
Estimated reading far above actual consumption. If your bill shows EST and the estimated units are substantially higher than what your meter actually shows, that's a reading error that produces direct overbilling. The fix is a correction complaint with your actual meter reading as evidence.
Previous reading entered incorrectly. Your bill's unit count is "Present Reading minus Previous Reading." If the previous reading is entered higher than it actually was, you get billed for fewer units — but if it's entered lower than actual, you get billed for too many. A previous reading that doesn't match the "Present Reading" from your last bill is a red flag worth investigating.
Wrong tariff category applied. If you're being billed at commercial or unprotected rates when your connection and consumption history qualifies you for protected domestic rates, that's a systematic overbilling on every cycle until the reclassification is corrected.
Billing system error producing an incorrect calculation. Less common but not unknown — situations where the tariff slab has been applied incorrectly, where a charge has been doubled, or where a credit that should have appeared as a deduction wasn't applied. Running your own manual calculation using the step-by-step calculation guide reveals this quickly.
MDI error on commercial or industrial bills. For commercial and industrial connections, an MDI charge based on an inflated demand recording — particularly if equipment wasn't actually running at the recorded peak during the billing period — can produce significant overbilling on a charge that's proportionally large.
What to document before filing a complaint
A well-documented overbilling complaint gets resolved faster because it gives the Revenue Officer something concrete to act on rather than just a general dispute. Before filing, collect:
Your meter photograph. Taken the same day you're filing, showing the current reading with the date visible if possible. This is your reference point.
Your last 3 to 6 bills. Available from the bill history tool for up to 12 months. These establish your normal consumption pattern and make a sudden spike look anomalous.
Your own calculation. Written out manually using the current tariff rates — shows exactly where you believe the discrepancy is and how much.
The specific discrepancy amount. "I was billed for 280 units but my actual consumption based on meter readings was 180 units — a difference of 100 units, resulting in approximately Rs. 3,600 overbilling" is a complaint that goes somewhere. "My bill is wrong" does not.
How to file the overbilling complaint
CCMS portal (fastest and creates a paper trail):
- Visit ccms.pitc.com.pk
- Enter your 14-digit reference number
- Select "Billing Complaint" as the category
- Specify "Overbilling / Wrong Meter Reading" as the sub-category
- Describe the discrepancy with specific numbers — billed units vs actual reading, billing month, exact rupee difference
- Upload your meter photo and any supporting bill copies
- Submit — receive a complaint reference number immediately
In person at subdivision office (best when meter reading is the issue):
Bring your CNIC, the disputed bill, your meter photograph, and your manual calculation. Ask to speak with the Revenue Officer specifically. Have your complaint logged formally with an acknowledgment.
By phone at 118: Log a formal complaint — ask specifically for a complaint reference number before the call ends.
What happens after the complaint is filed
For estimated reading corrections: The next actual reading reconciles the discrepancy automatically — if the estimate was too high, the following bill will show a negative adjustment. If you filed a formal complaint, the correction is expedited rather than waiting for the next natural reading cycle.
For calculation errors: If the Revenue Officer confirms the calculation error, a correction notice is issued and the overbilled amount is credited to your account — typically reflected on the next 1 to 2 bills as a credit adjustment rather than a cash refund.
For tariff reclassification: Once the reclassification is approved and your billing category is corrected, excess charges from previous months under the wrong category are credited.
What if the complaint is rejected?
If your subdivision office rejects a correction request you believe is legitimate, the escalation path is clear:
First escalation: Write to the Divisional Superintendent or Superintending Engineer at the circle level, referencing your original complaint number.
Second escalation: File with NEPRA's Consumer Affairs Department at nepra.org.pk. NEPRA has regulatory authority over all DISCOs and takes overbilling complaints seriously — they track correction rates as part of their DISCO performance monitoring.
A rejected complaint with documented evidence that you were overbilled is a stronger case at NEPRA than a complaint filed without prior attempts to resolve at the subdivision level — so working through the steps matters even when the first response is disappointing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I'm being overbilled by MEPCO?
Run your actual units consumed through the bill calculator. If your estimated total is significantly lower than your actual bill (more than 5 to 10%), check the specific line items — estimated readings, tariff category, and the calculation itself — to identify where the discrepancy is.
What is the most common cause of overbilling?
Estimated (EST) readings that are significantly higher than actual consumption are the most common cause of genuine overbilling, particularly during monsoon season when meter readers sometimes skip premises.
How do I file an overbilling complaint?
Through the CCMS portal at ccms.pitc.com.pk, selecting "Billing Complaint" and describing the specific discrepancy with numbers, or in person at your subdivision office with your meter photo and manual calculation.
Will I get a refund if I was overbilled?
Typically the correction is applied as a credit on your next 1 to 2 bills rather than a cash refund — the overbilled amount is deducted from future charges.
How long does an overbilling correction take?
NEPRA's guideline is 7 to 15 working days. Estimated reading corrections are often faster since they have a clear, straightforward remedy. Tariff reclassification cases can take slightly longer due to the additional approval levels involved.
What if my complaint is rejected even though I have clear evidence?
Escalate to the circle office with your complaint number, and if still unresolved, file with NEPRA's Consumer Affairs Department at nepra.org.pk — NEPRA has authority to direct MEPCO to issue billing corrections.
Last updated: August 2026
How to calculate your bill manually · File a complaint — CCMS guide · Bill history · Bill calculator