Can Your Electricity Be Cut for One Unpaid Bill in Pakistan? The 7 Day Notice Rule
One unpaid bill cannot cut your electricity in Pakistan. See the second bill seven day notice, the third month removal order and when a cut is not allowed.
In Pakistan, your electricity cannot be cut because of one unpaid bill. The company must send a clear seven day notice with your second bill, and can disconnect only after that second bill's due date passes. That is the rule in NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual, clauses 8.2.2 to 8.2.4.
Many people hear "pay or we cut the line" after missing a single bill. This guide sets out the month by month timeline in the manual, the cases where a cut should not happen, and what to do if your supply is cut too early.
One unpaid bill alone cannot lead to a cut
Clause 8.2.3 says no connection shall be disconnected for default on one month's bill. Clause 8.2.1 adds that a connection is not disconnected for failing to pay the current month's bill if there are no outstanding dues from before.
Pay late and you owe a late payment surcharge, which is a separate matter. Our guide to the electricity late payment surcharge explains it. The surcharge is a cost. It is not a reason to cut supply on its own.
The bill's due date matters too. The manual gives you 15 days from issue, with at least seven clear days from the day the bill was actually delivered. If the bill reached you late, the due date should move with it.
The second bill carries the seven day notice
If the previous month's bill is also unpaid, clause 8.2.2 says the company must issue a clear seven day notice along with the second month's bill. The notice can be printed or stamped on the bill. It tells you to clear the dues or face disconnection.
Clause 8.2.4 says that if payment does not arrive by the due date on the second bill, the supply of the defaulting premises shall be disconnected. It is restored only after you pay in full with the late payment surcharge, or pay in instalments the company allows.
| Month | What the manual says should happen |
|---|---|
| First bill unpaid | No disconnection (clause 8.2.3) |
| Second bill issued | Clear seven day notice with the bill (clause 8.2.2) |
| Second bill due date passes | Supply can be disconnected (clause 8.2.4) |
| Third bill and arrears unpaid | Equipment Removal Order and permanent disconnection code (clause 8.2.5) |
Look at your second bill. If there is no notice on it, or a lineman arrives before the second bill's due date, you can question the cut. Photograph the bill and write the lineman's name and time.
Some customers should not be cut at all
Clause 8.2.6 says a customer allowed to pay in instalments shall not be disconnected while paying them. Miss one instalment, though, and the supply can be cut without further notice, coming back only after 50 percent of the dues are paid.
Clause 8.2.9 says supply shall not be disconnected for a defaulter who has lodged a complaint or petition with NEPRA about wrong billing or a payment dispute where restraining orders have been issued. You must keep paying current bills regularly.
Clause 8.2.7 protects other connections in the same building. If one portion defaults, the other connections in different names are not disconnected. See the guide to tenant and landlord electricity dues for how this works.
The third month brings equipment removal
Clause 8.2.5 says that if the third bill and the earlier arrears are not paid by the third bill's due date, the company issues an Equipment Removal Order. It removes the meter and material and gives the premises a permanently disconnected code.
The clause adds that supply is restored only on payment of all dues, in full or instalments, plus the formalities in the reconnection policy. And if the company does not remove the equipment, you are not to be held responsible for theft of electricity or material.
Clause 8.2.10 covers extra load. If you use more than your sanctioned load, the company must issue a notice, and you have 15 days from receiving it to apply for an extension. The guide to extending electricity load has the steps.
What to do if your supply is cut too early
- Photograph your last two bills, showing issue dates, due dates and the notice, if any.
- Pay any amount that is clearly due, and keep the receipt.
- Write to the SDO, quoting clauses 8.2.2 to 8.2.4, and ask for supply to be restored.
- If the cut continues, log a complaint through the NEPRA complaint route or the NEPRA Asaan Approach app.
- After a lawful cut, follow the steps to reconnect your electricity, and ask about paying in instalments.
Common questions about electricity cuts for unpaid bills
Can my electricity be cut for one unpaid bill?
No, not under clause 8.2.3. The company needs a second unpaid bill first, and a clear seven day notice on it. If the cut is for another reason, such as theft or misuse, different rules apply.
How long do I have after the notice?
The notice gives seven clear days, and the cut can follow only after the due date on the second bill. Pay before both dates pass. Keep proof of the payment date.
Can the company cut my supply while I dispute my bill with NEPRA?
Clause 8.2.9 says not if NEPRA has issued restraining orders on your complaint, as long as you keep paying current bills. A complaint alone, without such an order, may not stop a cut.
Is the meter taken away after the first cut?
Not at once. The manual says equipment removal comes with an Equipment Removal Order after the third bill and arrears stay unpaid. Removal affects the fee you pay on reconnection.
Will late payment add to what I owe?
Yes. Reconnection needs the dues and the late payment surcharge, unless the company allows instalments. The amount you must clear depends on your bills, so ask the SDO for an exact figure.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 8 October 2026. We read the NEPRA Consumer Service Manual (with amendments and clarifications, as on 26 November 2025) on nepra.org.pk, clauses 8.1 to 8.2.10. NEPRA's six proposed changes of 25 September 2026 are not in force and do not change these clauses as listed. We did not test how each company serves the notice, and K-Electric may follow its own approved procedures, so check yours with the company.
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.
