The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken a big decision in 2025, now the old subsidy policy up to 2001 units has been abolished and launch new 300-Unit Subsidy Policy. Now under the new regime, only those consumers will get subsidy that uses electricity up to 300 units per month. 

·         This policy has been made according to NEPRA and federal governments and is being implemented from the next billing cycle

·         The aim of this policy is to provide relief to the poor and middle-class people and to reduce the losses of the electricity department

·         Earlier, if someone crossed 2001 units, their bill would become "non-protected" for 6 months. This will not happen now

This is a positive step for all types of consumers - especially residential ones. The full implementation of the policy will happen in Pakistan and its effect will be seen in the next bill.

Who Gets the Subsidy? Eligibility Criteria for 300-Unit Relief Revealed

·         This  electricity subsidy is only for residential (gharelu) consumers who use 300 units or less of electricity monthly. If your meter is commercial or industrial, you are not eligible for this relief

·         To become a protected consumer, you must have a registered meter with CNIC and there should be no outstanding dues (arrears) in your name

·         For people who have multiple meters in their name, their subsidy status will be decided by NEPRA. Users with prepaid meters are also eligible but their unit tracking system is different

Hence, every consumer must confirm his/her eligibility status with the customer service of his/her DISCO (PESCO, LESCO, MEPCO etc).

Subsidy will be available only to those people who are included in the "protected" category in NEPRA's database. Eligibility gets updated in every billing cycle, so regular monitoring is necessary.

Old vs New System Compared: How Much Will You Really Save?

In the previous regime, if you crossed 2001 units, the whole bill would be unprotected, and high tariff would be levied for 6 months. Now in the new regime, subsidy will be available only up to 300 units - and if you cross this limit, higher rates will be levied only on additional units, not on the entire bill. For example, if you use 280 units, your rate will be 33pkr per unit.

If there are 320 units, then the first 300 units will cost 33pkr and the next 20 units will cost 37.99pkr. In the earlier system, people used to get penalties and shock bills. The new system has more transparency. Go to our bill calculator where you can input your units, and estimate your savings instantly. This comparison system will help people understand how the new system is beneficial for them.

Step-by-Step: How the 300-Unit Subsidy Applies to Your Bill

If you are a PESCO, LESCO, or MEPCO consumer, there is a category at the top of your bill that says “Protected” or “Unprotected”. If you are protected and you’re monthly units are 300 or less, you will be charged 33 per unit.

·         For example, if your bill is for 295 units, the total bill will be 295 x 33 = 9735 (excluding taxes and fixed charges)

·         If you use 305 units, then the bill for up to 300 units will be 9900 and the rate for the next 5 units will be 37.99pkr

The bill format of every DISCO is slightly different, but the rate structure is the same for all. Do check the "Tariff Category" section of the bill. You have been given examples of every company in the article so that you can easily understand how the subsidy is applied.

Beyond 300 Units? What Your Electricity Will Cost Under the New Policy (2025 Tariff Sheet)

If you use more than 300 units of electricity, then the subsidy will be available only for the first 300 units. After that, every slab will have a different rate. According to the new 2025 tariff:

·         301–400 units: 37.99 per unit

·         401–500 units: 40.42 per unit

·         More than 501: 41.62 per unit

This is a slab-wise billing system in which rates increase after every 100 units. For example, if you use 450 units, the rate for the first 300 units will be 33, the next 100 units will be 37.99, and the next 50 units will be 40.42.

Earlier, there was a high tariff on the entire bill, now there is some relief with the slab-wise system. This detailed understanding will help users plan their expenses and also encourage them to save electricity.

Is This Permanent? Govt’s Timeline for the 300-Unit Subsidy – Key Expiry Alerts

This subsidy policy is temporary for now, but the federal government has approved it for a national rollout. A formal notification has been issued by NEPRA and Power Division.

The initial duration of the policy will start from one billing cycle and will be for the next few months, during which public response and revenue impact will be monitored.

The ministry has clarified that if the policy is successful, it can be extended. But if there is misuse or loss, there will be adjustments in it.

This can happen. If you get an expiry or subsidy removal notice on your bill, you should pay attention to it. The article also guides you to setup an alert system and reminder that gives timely updates to users.

Hidden Catch: 3 Situations That Could Disqualify Your Subsidy (Even Under 300 Units!)

This subsidy is not for everyone, if you fall in any of these 3 conditions, you may be disqualified:

·         Commercial or Industrial Meter:  If your meter is commercial but is installed at a residential place, then you are not eligible.

·         Duplicate Meters on One CNIC:  If there are multiple active meters on a single CNIC, NEPRA can block the subsidy.

Do not ignore these red flags. The subsidy is re-checked in every billing cycle. You should confirm the status of your meter from PESCO/LESCO. A full checklist has been given in the article which will ensure that you are not disqualified.

How to Claim Your Subsidy if It’s Missing (2025 Grievance Process)

If you feel that you are eligible for subsidy but it has not been applied in the bill, and then takes immediate action.

·         First of all, confirm the subsidy status from the customer service center of your DISCO.

·         After that you can register a complaint on NEPRA's official website.

·         You have to provide CNIC, bill number and grievance details in the complaint form

·         Every region has its own helpline number - Contact WAPDA helpline

·         You can also email by writing "Subsidy Missing Complaint" 

·         NEPRA usually responds within 7 days

Proof of consumption and meter image may also be required for subsidy. It is important to make a claim on time; otherwise you may miss the subsidy in the next billing cycle as well.

What's Next? How the 300-Unit Policy Could Impact Power Theft & Billing Accuracy

Experts say that this policy is not just a relief but a part of power sector reforms. When people get fair subsidy, there can be a reduction in power theft. But the challenge is that line losses and technical faults are still high.

The government will have to improve monitoring and smart metering. The new billing structure will bring transparency the consumer will be able to easily understand at what rate his unit is being charged. Billing accuracy can improve significantly if the meter readings are digitized.

NEPRA has also said that every DISCO will have to respond to consumer complaints timely. In the long-term, this policy sector can become a means of increasing efficiency, reducing circular debt, and building consumer trust.