What is self-metering app and how many Pakistanis are using it?

More than one million electricity consumers in Pakistan have adopted a new self-metering mobile application launched by the government in June this year, according to a report.

The app, called the Power Smart App, enables users to take control of their own electricity meter readings. Under the government’s campaign “Apna Meter, Apni Reading” (Your Meter, Your Reading), consumers can photograph their electricity meter on a designated date and upload the image through the app. The uploaded photo is then used to generate an accurate electricity bill based on the actual meter reading.

The purpose of this self-metering initiative is to eliminate common consumer complaints about inaccurate or inflated bills caused by errors or malpractice during manual meter readings.

“The uptake of this digital tool has been remarkable,” the report noted, with over one million active users across the country, signaling strong public interest and growing trust in digital governance solutions.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy, the self-metering system is also playing a role in curbing financial losses in the power sector. In June 2024, sector losses amounted to Rs591 billion ($2.07 billion), but reforms such as this app helped reduce losses by Rs191 billion ($668.5 million) over the past year.

The app is particularly beneficial for subsidy-eligible households. For instance, consumers who use up to 200 units of electricity receive a heavily subsidized bill of around Rs2,330. However, using even one extra unit can eliminate the subsidy, raising the bill to about Rs8,104. By allowing users to submit meter readings themselves, the app helps ensure eligible consumers can retain their subsidy by submitting timely and accurate data.

This self-metering initiative is part of a broader push to reform Pakistan’s troubled energy sector, which continues to grapple with circular debt, electricity theft, and power losses—issues that have long contributed to blackouts and unaffordable bills.