The Ministry of Power Division has launched the Power Smart App as part of its "Apna Meter, Apni Reading" initiative, aiming to empower electricity consumers by allowing them to submit their own meter readings.

The app was formally launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, according to a spokesperson for the Power Division.

The Power Smart App allows consumers to take a photograph of their electricity meter on a specified date and upload it through the app. Monthly electricity bills will then be generated based on this user-submitted image — offering a technological solution to long-standing issues such as overbilling, reading errors, and delays in meter reading.

“With this system, consumers will not only be able to monitor their bills, but also act as guardians of the meter reading process,” the spokesperson said.

One of the key advantages of the Power Smart App is its ability to protect subsidy-eligible consumers from losing financial support due to delayed or inaccurate readings.

Officials cited the example of users consuming up to 200 units of electricity, whose subsidised bills typically amount to around Rs 2,330. If consumption rises even slightly above that threshold, the subsidy is withdrawn, and the bill can exceed Rs 8,000. The app ensures that beneficiaries can retain their subsidy by submitting timely and accurate readings.

Another important feature is that if a consumer submits a reading on the specified due date, any meter reading taken after that day will not be prioritised—only the user-submitted reading will be used for billing purposes.

Initiatives like “Apna Meter, Apni Reading” aim to introduce transparency in the electricity system while empowering consumers to manage and verify their own billing. This is expected to significantly reduce overbilling, unnecessary interference, and related complaints, the spokesperson added.