The Power Division has launched a mandatory digital verification system for electricity consumers in Punjab using up to 200 units per month, in a latest move aimed at tightening subsidy eligibility.
Under the new system, households that fail to complete online verification risk losing access to subsidized electricity tariffs, which could increase per-unit rates from around Rs17–20 to nearly Rs38–40.
Officials said the initiative is designed to ensure that power subsidies are provided only to genuinely eligible consumers, after investigations revealed misuse of the scheme through multiple meters registered on a single property to stay below the 200-unit limit.
To curb such practices, electricity connections will now be linked with the national welfare database (BISP), and only one subsidized meter will be allowed per CNIC.
The verification process has been made fully digital and can be completed in a few minutes via mobile phones. Consumers are required to scan the QR code on their electricity bill, enter their reference number and CNIC, verify their registered mobile number through a one-time password, and confirm eligibility through the official portal.
The system will also cross-check eligibility based on residential tariff status, welfare database records such as Benazir Income Support Program and National Socio-Economic Registry, and monthly consumption patterns.
Authorities clarified that occasional spikes in electricity usage, such as during extreme weather, may temporarily affect eligibility, and advised consumers to ensure their bill details match their CNIC to avoid verification issues.
