MEPCO Load Shedding Schedule 2026 — How It Works and How to Check Yours

Load shedding isn't applied evenly — it's feeder-based

MEPCO's distribution network is organized into feeders, and each feeder is essentially its own micro-grid segment serving a defined cluster of connections. The critical thing to understand is that load shedding decisions are made at the feeder level, not the city or district level — which is exactly why two neighborhoods a few kilometers apart, or even two streets within the same neighborhood on different feeders, can experience completely different outage patterns.

This isn't arbitrary. It's tied directly to a feeder's recovery rate — essentially, how much of the electricity delivered to that feeder gets actually paid for, versus lost to theft, unbilled consumption, or non-payment. High-recovery feeders, where consumers pay their bills consistently and line losses are low, are prioritized for shorter or no scheduled outages. Low-recovery feeders, where theft or non-payment is more prevalent, absorb longer cuts — a policy designed to create pressure on the areas actually driving the losses, even though it inevitably affects honest, paying consumers on the same feeder along with everyone else.

Typical load shedding patterns across South Punjab in 2026

While your exact schedule depends entirely on your specific feeder, the general pattern across MEPCO's service area breaks down roughly like this:

Cities like Multan and Sahiwal, which have stronger urban recovery rates, generally see the lower end of these ranges in central areas. More remote or agriculturally dominant districts — parts of Layyah, Rajanpur, and rural Muzaffargarh in particular — tend to sit at the higher end, sometimes significantly so, due to a combination of longer feeder lines, higher technical line losses, and lower bill recovery in those specific areas.

Does load shedding change seasonally?

Yes, and this matters for planning. Summer months — particularly May through August — typically see load shedding intensify across most feeders, driven by two compounding factors: national electricity demand spikes as AC and cooling usage rises everywhere simultaneously, and generation capacity, particularly hydro, is often at a seasonal low point before monsoon rains replenish dam levels. Winter months generally see reduced load shedding hours as both national demand and generation constraints ease.

If your area experienced relatively manageable outages in December but you're now seeing significantly longer cuts in June, that's the expected seasonal pattern, not a sign that something has specifically worsened about your connection.

How to check the current schedule for your specific feeder

This is the part most generic articles skip, but it's the actually useful information: your feeder-specific schedule isn't something you can look up on a single national table, because it genuinely varies by location and gets adjusted periodically based on generation availability and recovery performance.

Contact your local Circle office directly. Each MEPCO circle maintains current load shedding information for the feeders under its jurisdiction. Check your city's specific circle contact number here — every city page on this site lists the direct circle helpline for exactly this purpose.

Ask specifically which feeder serves your connection. Your bill's subdivision code, combined with your specific street or area, determines your feeder. Subdivision office staff can usually confirm this and the associated schedule directly.

Call the general helpline (118) for broader guidance. While this won't give you a feeder-specific printout, it can confirm whether scheduled load shedding is currently in effect for your general area and roughly what pattern to expect.

Scheduled load shedding versus unscheduled outages — know the difference

It's worth separating two genuinely different things that often get lumped together as "load shedding":

Scheduled load shedding follows the recovery-based feeder logic described above — a planned, recurring pattern tied to grid management and recovery performance.

Unscheduled outages (faults) are unplanned interruptions caused by equipment failures, storm damage, tripped transformers, or line faults — these have nothing to do with the scheduled pattern and are reported and resolved separately, typically faster since they're treated as faults requiring repair rather than planned grid management.

If your power goes out at an unusual time outside your normal pattern, and especially if it doesn't restore within the typical scheduled window, it's worth reporting it specifically as a fault through the helpline (118) or your subdivision office rather than assuming it's part of your regular schedule.

Why higher bill-paying areas get shorter cuts — and what that means for you

There's a direct, intentional link between your area's collective bill payment behavior and your load shedding hours. This isn't something MEPCO hides — it's openly part of the recovery-based load management strategy used across Pakistan's DISCOs. Practically, this means:

• Consistent, on-time payment across your feeder area contributes to improving your area's recovery rate over time
• Reporting theft or illegal kunda connections on your feeder, when you're aware of them, can genuinely help reduce your area's line losses and, indirectly, your load shedding hours
• If your area's schedule has worsened over recent months, it's worth checking whether local recovery or theft issues have increased, since that's the most common driver of a feeder moving to a longer-cut category

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out my specific MEPCO load shedding schedule?
Contact your local circle office directly using your area's specific helpline number, or ask your subdivision office which feeder serves your connection and what schedule currently applies to it. There is no single citywide schedule — it varies by feeder.

Why does my neighbor have shorter load shedding hours than me?
This is almost always because you're on different feeders with different recovery rates. Areas with higher bill payment consistency and lower technical losses receive shorter scheduled outages than areas with more theft or non-payment.

Does load shedding get worse in summer?
Yes, generally. Rising national demand from AC and cooling usage combined with lower hydro generation before monsoon season typically increases load shedding hours across most feeders from roughly May through August.

What's the difference between load shedding and a power fault?
Load shedding is planned and recurring, tied to grid management. A fault is an unplanned outage caused by equipment failure or damage, reported and resolved separately as a repair issue rather than following the regular schedule.

Can paying my bill on time actually reduce load shedding in my area?
Indirectly, yes. Load shedding hours are tied to a feeder's overall recovery rate — consistent bill payment across an area contributes to that recovery rate improving over time, which can lead to shorter scheduled outages for that feeder.

Who do I contact if my power is out longer than my normal schedule?
Call the general helpline (118) or your subdivision office and report it specifically as a fault rather than assuming it's extended load shedding — faults are handled as repair issues, typically resolved faster than a schedule change would be.

Last updated: August 2026
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