How to Apply for a New Electricity Connection in Pakistan

Getting a new electricity connection in Pakistan involves an application to your local Distribution Company (DISCO), site verification, load assessment, payment of demand charges, and meter installation. The process is more streamlined than it was a decade ago — most DISCOs now accept online applications alongside in-person ones — but the timeline and required documents are still specific enough that knowing them in advance saves significant back-and-forth.

Step 1: Determine Your DISCO and Connection Type

Your DISCO is determined by your property's location. MEPCO covers south Punjab, LESCO covers Lahore and surrounding areas, FESCO covers Faisalabad, IESCO covers Islamabad and Rawalpindi, GEPCO covers Gujranwala division, PESCO covers Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, HESCO covers Hyderabad and interior Sindh, SEPCO covers Sukkur division, QESCO covers Balochistan, and HAZECO and TESCO cover their respective regions. Karachi is served by K-Electric (a separate company from DISCO/WAPDA network).

You will also need to decide on the connection type: single-phase (up to 15 kW sanctioned load, suitable for most homes and small shops) or three-phase (above 15 kW, required for larger commercial premises, factories, or residential properties with heavy AC loads, water pumps, and other large appliances running simultaneously).

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Requirements vary slightly by DISCO, but the standard document set for a domestic connection includes:

• Copy of your CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card)
• Property ownership documents or a tenancy agreement with owner's CNIC copy
• Location map or site plan showing the property in relation to the nearest electricity pole or transformer
• Completed application form (available at the DISCO office or their website)
• Recent passport-size photograph
• No-objection certificate from the property owner if you are a tenant
• For commercial connections: trade licence, business registration, and potentially a detailed load list

Step 3: Submit the Application and Site Inspection

Applications can be submitted at the DISCO's SDO (Sub-Division Officer) office, CSC (Customer Service Center), or — for DISCOs that support it — through the official website or the ENC (Electricity New Connection) online portal. After submission, the DISCO schedules a site inspection to verify the property, assess the load you are requesting, and determine whether extension of the low-tension (LT) network is required to reach your premises.

The site inspector will survey the distance from the nearest distribution transformer to your property, estimate the infrastructure cost if extension is needed, and prepare a demand notice (estimate of charges) for you to review. This stage typically takes 7–21 days after application submission, depending on the DISCO's workload.

Step 4: Pay the Demand Notice

After the inspection, you receive a demand notice specifying the connection charges. These typically include the security deposit (refundable when you later surrender the connection), the connection fee, and — if the DISCO needs to extend the LT line, install a pole, or add a new transformer — the infrastructure extension charges. These infrastructure costs can vary enormously: a simple connection to a pole directly outside your property might cost a few thousand rupees, while a connection requiring a new transformer or significant line extension can run into hundreds of thousands.

Pay the demand notice at the specified bank or through the DISCO's payment channels within the validity period stated on the notice (usually 30–60 days). Keep the payment receipt — it is essential for the next step.

Step 5: Meter Installation and Connection

After payment confirmation, the DISCO schedules the physical installation: laying service cable, installing the meter, and energising the connection. For a standard domestic connection in an existing served area, this typically happens within 15–30 days of payment. For connections requiring new infrastructure, the timeline depends on the scale of work.

Once the meter is installed and energised, test all circuits on your property immediately. Your DISCO should provide a meter card or connection certificate with your consumer number and reference number — keep this document carefully, as the reference number is what you will use to pay bills and access your account for the life of the connection.

Online Application (ENC Portal)

Several DISCOs now accept new connection applications through the online ENC (Electricity New Connection) portal, which is part of the broader government digital services initiative. The portal allows you to upload documents, pay the application fee online, and track the status of your application. The process mirrors the in-person application but reduces the number of physical visits required. Check your specific DISCO's website for whether online applications are currently supported and what the portal address is.