Load shedding means temporarily stopping the supply of electricity. There are two types of outages: planned outages, which are done according to IESCO's schedule, and unplanned outages, which are caused by emergency grid failures or technical issues.

IESCO, which supplies power to Islamabad and nearby areas, does load shedding when demand is high and generation is low. Issues such as fuel shortages, circular debt, and grid failures are all causes of this shortfall.

Some areas of Islamabad like Bhara Kahu, Rawat, G-10 and I-10 face frequent load shedding. In such areas, the impact of load shedding is not just inconvenience but also impacts billing.

Also learn about How to Reduce IESCO Bill in 2025

The Hidden Link Between Load Shedding & High Electricity Bills

When the light goes on and off repeatedly, voltage surges occur. These surges can damage your electric meters or force them to take wrong readings which results in your electricity bill going up.

Another hidden factor is phantom consumption. When the lights go out, some devices  like fridges, routers, UPS, draw intermittent power. The meter detects this draw, even if the appliance is not fully working.

IESCO often makes estimated billing when a meter reading cannot be taken, especially during long outages. These estimated units can be more than the actual usage, causing consumers to pay extra.

 Here you can Calculate you LECSO bill In Pakistan In 2025

How Power Outages Damage Appliances & Increase Costs

Voltage fluctuations occur after load shedding, which damages sensitive appliances. Devices like fridge compressor, AC’s PCB (Printed Circuit Board), and water motor get burnt or get short circuited.

The cost of repair is high  a PCB repair of inverter ACs can cost up to ?6,000–10,000. IESCO’s unstable supply indirectly imposes this additional cost.

People repeatedly complain against IESCO on social media platforms, such as Twitter. Screenshots and videos are also shared where the entire household appliances get damaged after a power surge.

IESCO’s Billing System: Are You Paying for Unused Electricity?

IESCO billing system generates bills even when there is no power. When digital meters stop recording during load shedding, estimated units are still added to your account.

In some cases, the issue of "frozen meters" has been seen - where the meter stops reading but bills are still generated. Consumers do not understand how this billing is calculated.

You can check whether you are being overbilled or not by comparing your unit consumption and load shedding hours. You can check IESCO bill online on the official IESCO app and website and compare previous records.

Proven Ways to Reduce Your Bill Despite Load Shedding

To avoid voltage fluctuations, use automatic voltage stabilizers or high-quality UPS. These not only protect appliances, but also help the meter take an accurate reading.

Nowadays energy-saving appliances, such as inverter ACs and LED bulbs, use less energy even during power cuts. Its effect is clear in your monthly bill calculator.

Hybrid solar systems reduce electricity cost by up to 50%. The government has introduced electric subsidy and solar panel incentives which are beneficial for the people of Islamabad.

If your bill is unreasonable, you get easy bill guidelines on Pakbills in which the complaint process is explained step-by-step.

What Other DISCOs Are Doing Better Than IESCO?

When we compare IESCO with LESCO and K-Electric, their load shedding hours are relatively less. In Lahore, LESCO has made many areas zero load shedding zones, while IESCO is still having frequent outages.

LESCO has introduced real-time tracking to make the billing process transparent. K-Electric has launched app-based support for customer complaints, while IESCO is still in manual complaint culture.

People in Islamabad protest every year, while public awareness and utility engagement is more active in Karachi and Lahore.

Public Protests & Government Response to IESCO’s Load Shedding

In early 2025, there were protests in many areas of Islamabad against inflated bills and long outages. They staged a sit-in outside IESCO offices and sent fake bills.

NEPRA conducted an inquiry against IESCO, which revealed records of overbilling and mismanagement. Penalties were also issued in some areas, but implementation was weak.

The government had promised solar energy schemes and smart grid transitions, but slow progress in ground realities increased public frustration, If you find any issue then you can contact WAPDA helpline

Future Solutions: Will Solar/Smart Grids End Load Shedding?

Solar subsidies are already available in Islamabad. The government has allowed people to install panels under the PM Rooftop Solar Scheme - reducing IESCO dependency.

IESCO has launched a pilot program of smart meters. These meters track real-time consumption and can help solve the issue of overbilling, if rolled out correctly.

Long-term solutions are renewable energy and grid upgrades. Until grid modernization and local generation are restored, the issue of load shedding and overbilling will remain alive.