MEPCO Peak and Off-Peak Hours: A Practical Guide for TOU Meter Users
If your MEPCO bill shows separate peak and off-peak readings, the time of day matters as much as the number of units. A washing machine, water pump, iron, or battery charger used at one hour may be billed differently from the same appliance used later. That is the basic idea behind a Time of Use (TOU) connection.
TOU billing does not mean that every MEPCO customer has to follow a special schedule. It applies to accounts with the relevant TOU meter and tariff arrangement. If your home has a conventional single-register meter, moving an appliance from 8 pm to 2 pm will not create peak/off-peak entries on the bill. Start by checking the meter display and tariff information before changing your routine.
What peak and off-peak mean
Peak hours are the daily period when the tariff schedule identifies electricity use as peak consumption. Off-peak hours are the remaining hours under the published TOU schedule. A TOU meter records the energy used in the two periods separately, allowing the bill to apply the relevant peak and off-peak components.
Peak timing is not the same thing as load shedding. Load shedding is a supply interruption or feeder schedule. Peak timing is a billing period, and electricity may be available during it. A feeder can have an outage during off-peak hours, while a customer can still be charged for peak consumption on a different day when supply was available.
Likewise, “off-peak” does not mean free electricity. It is a tariff period, normally intended to have a different rate from peak use. The final amount still depends on the applicable tariff, taxes, surcharges, adjustments, fixed charges where applicable, and the account’s other bill lines.
MEPCO peak hours by season
NEPRA’s tariff conditions specify the following daily TOU periods for ex-WAPDA distribution companies, including MEPCO:
| Months | Peak hours | Off-peak hours |
|---|---|---|
| December–February | 5:00 pm–9:00 pm | All remaining hours |
| March–May | 6:00 pm–10:00 pm | All remaining hours |
| June–August | 7:00 pm–11:00 pm | All remaining hours |
| September–November | 6:00 pm–10:00 pm | All remaining hours |
On the fact-check date for this guide, August falls in the June–August period, so the published peak window is 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The schedule is seasonal and can be amended or adjusted if the applicable tariff notification changes. Daylight-saving language in the notification also allows the timing to be adjusted if such a change is formally made. Before relying on a printed timetable, check the latest NEPRA schedule and your current MEPCO bill.
How to tell whether your connection is TOU
Look at the consumer information section of the bill. It may identify the tariff, sanctioned load, meter type, or peak and off-peak units. A TOU bill commonly shows separate entries for peak units and off-peak units instead of one undivided consumption figure.
You can also inspect the physical meter display, but do not open the meter box or interfere with seals. Digital meters may cycle through several screens, such as total kWh, peak kWh, off-peak kWh, maximum demand, and meter status. The exact display sequence varies by meter model, so use the bill and MEPCO’s customer service channel if the labels are unclear.
Sanctioned load is another clue, but it is not a substitute for checking the actual account. NEPRA’s residential conditions distinguish connections by load and metering arrangement, and the 2024 notification states that existing consumers with sanctioned load of 5 kW and above are to be provided TOU metering and converted to the applicable A-1(b) tariff. A load enhancement, meter replacement, or tariff change can alter how an account is billed.
If the bill does not show TOU readings, do not assume that an appliance is receiving an off-peak rate merely because it is switched on at night. Confirm the account category first.
How a TOU bill records your usage
The meter measures electricity flowing through the connection and assigns the recorded kWh to the active time period. Your bill may show a previous and current reading for each register, along with the resulting peak and off-peak units. If a multiplying factor applies, it should be reflected in the billing calculation; high-load or specialised installations may have different metering details from a normal household.
Read the bill in this order:
- Confirm the bill month and reading dates.
- Note the previous and current peak readings.
- Note the previous and current off-peak readings.
- Compare the calculated units with the total shown on the bill.
- Check the applicable tariff and any fixed charges.
- Review taxes, surcharges, FCA/QTA or other adjustments, arrears, and late-payment entries separately.
A higher payable amount does not automatically mean the meter placed units in the wrong period. The tariff rate may have changed, an adjustment may have been applied, or the billing period may be longer than usual. Conversely, if the peak register jumps while your household’s routine did not change, photograph the display and request a billing or meter review.
How to plan household use around the schedule
The best candidates for shifting are flexible loads that do not need to run at a particular moment. Depending on your household and equipment, you may be able to schedule:
- water-pump operation for a time when the tank and household needs permit;
- washing-machine cycles and laundry equipment;
- battery charging or other storage systems;
- ironing and similar high-wattage tasks;
- dishwashers or kitchen equipment with a timer;
- workshop or agricultural loads that can safely operate outside peak hours.
Do not create a safety problem to save a few units. Never leave an iron, heater, cooking appliance, or pump unattended just because it is off-peak. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, keep extension leads and sockets in good condition, and avoid overloading a circuit. A timer can shift a task, but it cannot make an unsafe appliance safe.
Air-conditioners deserve a realistic plan. Running a compressor continuously through peak hours can add significant consumption, but switching it off and on repeatedly may reduce comfort and is not automatically the most efficient approach. Use an appropriate thermostat setting, clean filters, close doors and curtains, and keep the unit maintained. The goal is to reduce unnecessary peak and total use, not merely to move every activity to a different clock time.
For the June–August schedule, a household might run a water pump at 5:30 pm if the tank and supply conditions allow, complete ironing before 7 pm, and postpone battery charging until after 11 pm. In September the peak window changes to 6–10 pm, so the same routine would need to be adjusted. Treat the timetable as a planning aid, not as a guarantee of a specific saving.
Does using off-peak electricity always lower the bill?
Not necessarily. A TOU bill applies the tariff in force for the account and billing month, and those components can change. A customer’s total bill also includes items that do not disappear when usage is shifted: taxes, surcharges, fixed charges where applicable, arrears, and periodic adjustments. If total consumption rises because appliances run longer overnight, an off-peak rate may not offset the extra units.
The useful comparison is between like-for-like billing months. Track total units, peak units, off-peak units, and the final line items for two or three cycles. A lower peak share is encouraging, but the result should be assessed alongside total consumption and the tariff notification. Do not use an old rate from a social-media graphic to predict savings.
What to do when the timing or readings look wrong
Save the bill and photograph the meter display with the date visible. Record whether the meter was replaced, the supply was interrupted, or the account’s sanctioned load changed. Compare the reading dates rather than only the printed bill date. If a reading was estimated or the period was unusually long, note that in your complaint.
Contact MEPCO customer service or use the PITC complaint system and ask for a TOU billing verification. Include the reference number, bill month, peak and off-peak readings, meter number, and the exact issue. If the problem concerns a tariff or metering change, ask which account record authorised it. Keep the complaint number and receipts for any payment made while the issue is reviewed.
If MEPCO does not resolve a documented billing dispute, retain the evidence for escalation through the applicable NEPRA consumer complaint route. A complaint is stronger when it identifies a concrete reading or category discrepancy rather than simply stating that the bill is high.
Frequently asked questions
What are MEPCO peak hours in August?
Under the published seasonal schedule, June through August peak hours are 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Verify the latest notification before relying on the timing because tariff schedules can be revised.
Are the remaining 20 hours always off-peak?
Under the cited TOU schedule, yes: the hours outside the four-hour seasonal peak window are the off-peak period. This applies to an account with the relevant TOU arrangement, not automatically to every MEPCO connection.
Is peak timing the same as load shedding?
No. Peak timing is a billing period. Load shedding is a supply interruption or feeder schedule. They may overlap on a particular day, but they describe different things.
How do I know whether my meter is TOU?
Check whether the bill shows separate peak and off-peak readings and review the tariff or meter-type field. If the information is unclear, ask MEPCO to confirm the account rather than opening or altering the meter box.
Can I run an air-conditioner only during off-peak hours?
You can plan flexible cooling or pre-cooling around the schedule, but comfort, safety, and equipment instructions come first. Efficient settings and maintenance can reduce total use as well as peak use.
Why did my bill rise even after I shifted use to off-peak hours?
Possible causes include higher total units, revised tariff components, taxes, surcharges, periodic adjustments, arrears, or a longer reading period. Compare all bill lines and both registers before deciding that the TOU meter is wrong.
Editorial source notes
- NEPRA, DISCO Tariff Notifications, definition of TOU peak and off-peak periods: https://nepra.org.pk/tariff/Tariff/Notifications/2021/DISCOs%20SRO%20182%20to%20191.pdf
- NEPRA, Decision regarding Federal Government Motion and Policy Guidelines for Rationalization of Tariff, 11 February 2026: https://www.nepra.org.pk/tariff/Tariff/Ex-WAPDA%20DISCOS/2026/TRF-100%20XWDISCOS%20AND%20KE%20RATIONALIZATION%20OF%20TARIFF%2011-02-2026%202935-57.pdf
- NEPRA, S.R.O. 1031(I)/2024, residential tariff definitions and metering conditions: https://nepra.org.pk/tariff/Tariff/Notifications/2024/07%20Jul/SRO%201031%2012-07-2024.pdf
- MEPCO, Chapter 6: Meter Reading and Billing: https://www.mepco.com.pk/sites/default/files/Upload/PDF/Chaptar-6.pdf
- MEPCO customer service: https://www.mepco.com.pk/customer-services
- PITC Customer Complaint Management System: https://ccms.pitc.com.pk/complaint
The timings and tariff components may be revised. This article was fact-checked on 18 August 2026; verify the schedule applicable to your bill month.