There is some confusion about the Punjab government’s new relief plan for electricity users because the promised Rs14 per unit subsidy was not shown on the August 2024 bills for people with three-phase meters.
This big relief was put in place by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to help people deal with the rising cost of power. The subsidy was meant to help people who use less than 500 units, and it was supposed to be applied to their energy bills for August and September 2024. This would have helped people in Punjab and Islamabad.
Recently, though, sources from the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) said that the discount had only been applied to people with single-phase meters in their August bills. The responsible ministry has not yet told Lesco to help customers with three-phase meters, so those customers will not get the discount they were hoping for.
Many people with three-phase meters have been going to the Lesco offices to get more information and help, but employees have said they can’t do anything until they get official instructions from the government.
Update for people who own single-phase electricity meters
People with single-phase meters who use less than 500 units will still get a Rs14 per unit subsidy on their energy bills until September 2024, as planned in the first relief package.
Update for people who own three-phase electricity meters
Unfortunately, three-phase meter holders will not be able to get the Rs14 per unit subsidy on their September bills unless the ministry gives them new orders. This is also the case in August.
As agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Punjab government also took away the subsidy for users in Islamabad earlier this month. This made things even more complicated.