How to Reduce Your Sanctioned Electricity Load in Pakistan and Get Deposit Money Back

To reduce your sanctioned electricity load in Pakistan, send a "Reduction of load" request through your distribution company, with a wiring test report and your last paid bill. You can ask for any lower figure the test report supports. The company then updates your security deposit and refunds or charges the difference.

Many homes carry a load figure set years ago. You may have moved to solar and use far less from the grid. A lower load can mean money back, but cutting too far causes trouble. We read NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual, the rulebook every distribution company follows, and the online change form to write this.

Reduction of load is its own application

A reduction of load lowers the kilowatts (kW) the company has agreed to supply you. Your sanctioned load is printed on your bill. The manual treats a reduction like an extension: it is a formal application with a form, a contract and a deposit update.

Clause 2.14 of the manual says a reduction "may be applied for any lower limit as per the test report". That is useful. You are not forced to pick from a fixed list of sizes. Your wiring contractor writes the load the installation really needs, and the company works from that number.

The same clause says net metering connections follow the same procedure as everyone else. If you have solar and a net metering meter, you do not need a special form to lower your load.

Apply on the online change form with four uploads

The ENC portal, which serves LESCO, GEPCO, PESCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, TESCO and HAZECO, has a change form with a "Reduction of load" option. We opened it on 11 October 2026 and read its fields. The steps below match it.

1. Open the change form. Go to enc.com.pk and choose the change application for name, tariff or load.
2. Tick "Change of Load". Pick "Reduction of load" from the type list, not "Addition of load".
3. Enter your numbers. Type the reference number from your bill, your CNIC, your mobile number, your current sanctioned load and the new load, both in kW.
4. Upload four files. The form asks for an attested CNIC copy, a copy of your electricity bill, proof of ownership and the wiring contractor's test report. The form says the test report is mandatory for a change of load.
5. Submit once and keep the number. Use the application number to follow up with your sub division office.

Our guide to raising your sanctioned load on the same portal lists the portal details. If your company is not on the portal, ask your sub division office how to apply.

Your deposit is recalculated and the gap comes back or is charged

The company updates your security deposit at today's rate when your load changes. If the new total is lower than what you paid, you get the difference back. If it is higher, you pay the difference. The manual says "refunded/charged, as the case may be" in clause 5.2.4.

The current rates sit in Annexure IV of the manual. For an urban home it is Rs 1,220 a kW. For a rural home it is Rs 610 a kW. Loads above one kW are rounded: half a kW or more counts as a full kW, and less than half is ignored.

These are our own sums, and they assume you paid the deposit at the same Rs 1,220 rate. Many old connections paid at lower rates. In that case the difference is smaller, and a reduction on paper could even leave you with a small payment. Ask the sub division for a written figure before you sign.

For the full refund when a connection is closed, see how the security deposit comes back at permanent disconnection.

Clear your dues first or the request stalls

The manual's document list asks for a copy of your last paid bill. It adds that there must be no arrears, no deferred amount and no instalments pending. So an open instalment plan blocks the application.

One more condition matters. You need a power supply contract for the new load, signed on Rs 50 stamp paper.

Do not cut below what you really use

If your meter records a higher demand than your sanctioned load, the company can act. The manual says that for static or digital meters up to 8 kW, the meter reader records the maximum demand each month. A notice goes out through your bill when the load is exceeded.

If you do not respond, the extra security deposit is recovered through your bills in three to six instalments, and your load is extended automatically. So a reduction that is too deep may be reversed, with a deposit charge on top.

Ask your wiring contractor to measure your peak load with the biggest appliances on, and keep a margin.

One exception: if you got a separate connection for a portion of a house on the time of use tariff, at 5 kW and above, the manual says no reduction request will be entertained for it.

Time limits the company must meet

Annexure III of the manual gives a time frame for new connections, extension and reduction of load. For a load up to 15 kW, the steps add up to 30 days. That is 4 days to register and verify, 6 days for the estimate and demand notice, 11 days for the work order, and 9 days for metering.

If the company misses a step, it must give you written reasons for each day of delay and send a copy to NEPRA. The delay does not cancel its duty to finish. If nothing happens, how to complain about a wrong electricity bill sets out the route to NEPRA with your application number. The service deadlines NEPRA sets for every company are listed separately.

Common questions

Can I reduce my electricity load online in Pakistan?

Yes, for the companies on the ENC portal. The change form has a "Reduction of load" option. If your company is not on that portal, ask your sub division office how to apply.

What documents do I need to reduce my load?

You need a wiring test report from the Electric Inspector or an authorised contractor, your last paid bill with no arrears, an attested CNIC copy and proof of ownership. A power supply contract is also required.

Will I get my security deposit back if I reduce load?

You get the difference, if the new deposit at today's rate is lower than what you paid. If it is higher, you pay the gap instead.

How long does a load reduction take?

Annexure III allows 30 days for a load up to 15 kW. Loads from 15 to 70 kW get 44 days.

Does a lower load cut my monthly bill?

We did not find a rule that lowers your unit charges. Check your tariff's fixed charge on your bill before you apply, and do not expect a big saving from the sanctioned load alone.

What happens if I use more than my reduced load?

The company can send a notice on your bill. If you ignore it, an extra deposit is recovered in three to six instalments and your load is raised.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 11 October 2026. We read NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual, as on 26 November 2025, including clauses 2.14 and 5.2 and Annexures III and IV, in a copy published by a distribution company. We opened the online change form at enc.com.pk and read its load options and upload fields. We did not submit an application. The deposit examples are our own arithmetic. We did not find a published rule that links sanctioned load to your monthly unit charge. Confirm the amounts with your sub division and on nepra.org.pk before you pay.