Check If Your New Electricity Connection Is Late in Pakistan: 128,096 Paid Applicants Were Waiting
NEPRA says 128,096 customers who had paid were still waiting for a connection in June 2025. See the 95% on-time rule and how to prove and report a delay.
Short answer: NEPRA's rules say a power company must connect at least 95% of eligible customers on time. In June 2025 about 128,096 customers who had completed their requirements were still waiting, with 1,021 MW of demand unserved. Count your days from payment, then complain with proof.
Paying the demand notice and then waiting months for a meter is a common story. NEPRA's own report shows it is not rare. It also shows which companies went over the limit for late connections.
We downloaded and read NEPRA's Performance Evaluation Report of Distribution Companies for 2024-25 from nepra.org.pk on 13 October 2026. It covers the year to June 2025. Where the report disagrees with itself, we say so.
About 128,096 paid applicants were still waiting in June 2025
The report counts customers whose connection is "ripe", meaning they have met every requirement and paid, but have no supply. As of June 2025 the total was 128,096, with a combined load of over 1,021 MW across the power companies.
The report says most of the waiting load is domestic, though industry also holds a large share. It calls this troubling because the system has enough generation to supply them. NEPRA says it has sent notices to companies over mismatched figures.
The rule says 95% of connections must be on time
Rule 4(c) of the Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005 says a company must connect at least 95% of eligible customers within the set time. So no more than 5% may be late. NEPRA checks this each year against company data.
| What NEPRA reported for 2024-25 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Allowed share of late connections | 5% |
| MEPCO, share of late connections | 6.33% |
| K-Electric, share of late connections | 5.84% |
| All other companies in the table | 5% or below |
| Paid applicants still waiting, June 2025 | 128,096 |
The report's table shows MEPCO and K-Electric above the 5% limit, by 1.33 and 0.84 points. The report's summary text is not consistent with this. It says GEPCO and QESCO narrowly missed and that MEPCO and K-Electric failed to connect 13 to 14% of applicants. We trust the table, because its breach column matches the arithmetic, but we are flagging the conflict.
Newer rules put a daily payment on delays
NEPRA's August 2026 regulations set deadlines and daily compensation for connections that need the network expanded. Our reading of them, covered in NEPRA's new service deadlines, gives 30 days and then Rs 200 a day for up to 15 kW at 400 volts.
That is a separate set of rules from the 2005 rules the report measures. We did not re-check the August 2026 text today. Read the figure against the regulation before you claim a payment. For the application itself, see the documents and demand notice rules for a new connection.
Prove the delay with dates and receipts
A late-connection complaint needs dates. You need the day you applied, the day you paid the demand notice and the days you followed up. Without them the company can say the work is still in time. Keep paper and phone photos of all of it.
- Photograph your application receipt and the demand notice.
- Photograph the paid bank slip or online receipt showing the date.
- Write down every call or visit, with the name of the staff member and the day.
- Count the days from payment and compare with the time limit that applies to your connection.
- Complain to the company in writing and ask for a complaint number.
- If nothing happens, register the case with NEPRA and attach your proof.
Use the NEPRA complaint route when the company is silent
NEPRA expects the company to get the first chance. If it does not act, take the case to the regulator through the app or complaint form. Our guide to the escalation ladder for electricity complaints shows each step and what NEPRA wants to see first.
The report says NEPRA monitors pending connections through its Online Data Exchange Portal, where companies post monthly updates on pending connections and delay. That is a company-side tool, not a public tracker we could test. We could not verify that customers can look up their own case there.
Common questions
What does a ripe connection mean?
It means the applicant has completed every requirement and paid, so the company can connect. NEPRA counts these to see how many people wait without cause.
How many people were waiting in June 2025?
About 128,096, with a load of over 1,021 MW, according to NEPRA's report. The report says most are domestic customers.
Which companies went over the 5% limit?
Per the report's table, MEPCO at 6.33% and K-Electric at 5.84%. The report's text names different companies, so we flag the conflict.
How long should my connection take?
It depends on load and whether the network needs work. The August 2026 regulations give 30 days for up to 15 kW with network expansion. Check the exact text for your case.
Can I get money for a delay?
The August 2026 regulations set a daily payment after the time limit. We have not seen a case paid out, so ask the company in writing and escalate if refused.
Does the report cover TESCO?
No. NEPRA left TESCO out because much of its supply is unmetered and its data was unreliable.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026. Source: NEPRA Performance Evaluation Report of Distribution Companies, FY 2024-25, Section 2.5 and Tables 07 to 09. We did not print company-by-company waiting counts because the report's table columns could not be matched to company names with confidence.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
