It is 9 pm. The fan stops, the lights go out, and your phone is on 20%. Is it load shedding, a planned shutdown, or a fault on your street? The answer decides what you should do next.
IESCO publishes its schedules online. You just need to know where to look and what your feeder is. This guide shows you both.
Your 3-minute checklist
- Find your feeder name on your IESCO bill.
- Know your circle: Islamabad, Rawalpindi City and Cantt, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal or AJK.
- Check the Power Shutdown notices for today's date.
- Check your circle's load-management file for your feeder.
- Not listed anywhere? Call 118 and report the outage.
Step zero: your feeder
A feeder is the power line that supplies your area. Schedules are made feeder by feeder, so this name matters more than your sector or street.
NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual (it is also on IESCO's website) says a bill should show the name of the division, sub-division and feeder. So start with your bill. If you do not have it, you can view your latest bill on our IESCO bill check page.
Where IESCO posts schedules
| What you need | Official place | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Load-management schedule | iesco.com.pk/load-shedding | One file per circle, with a month and a "Click to View" link |
| Planned shutdowns | iesco.com.pk/press-release, "Power Shutdown" tab | Notices by date, in English and Urdu (PDF) |
| Quick updates | IESCO on Facebook and X (Twitter) | IESCO says shutdown schedules are also shared on its social media |
| Help with an outage | Helpline 118 | Report a fault and get a complaint number |
Reading a load-management file
The files are Excel sheets. Each row is one feeder. You will see the grid name, the feeder name and a feeder code. Then there are columns for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours of interruptions.
The top of the sheet says the schedule is used according to generation shortfall or frequency issues. So it does not mean the power will go off every day. It shows which slots apply to your feeder if load management is needed.
How to read the time slots
Times use the 24-hour clock. A slot written as 09--10, 21--22 means 9 to 10 am and 9 to 10 pm.
Find your feeder, then look at the column for the number of hours being applied in your area.
At the time of writing (10 October 2026), IESCO's page listed files for all six circles, each marked Sep-2026. Always check the month shown next to the file.
Reading a shutdown notice
Shutdown notices are short press releases. Each one gives the date, the circle, the time window and the feeders affected.
For example, IESCO's notice for 6 October 2026 listed work from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on named feeders in the Islamabad, Rawalpindi Cantt, Rawalpindi City, Attock and Jhelum circles. The reason given was development work, such as shifting poles for roads and flyovers.
Search the PDF for your feeder name. If it is there, plan around that window.
When there is no schedule
If your feeder is not in any notice and the power is still off, it could be a fault. Do not wait. Call 118 and keep the complaint number. See our IESCO complaint guide for all the ways to complain.
IESCO's FAQ says frequent shutdowns are most often caused by an overloaded system. It suggests contacting your sub-divisional officer, who can explain the problem in your area. You can find the numbers in our IESCO office directory.
FAQs
Does IESCO publish a load-shedding schedule every day?
No daily schedule is promised. The load-management files on iesco.com.pk/load-shedding are listed by circle with a month next to each file. Planned shutdown notices are posted separately, by date, under the Power Shutdown tab on the press release page.
How do I know my feeder name?
NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual says an electricity bill should show the name of your division, sub-division and feeder. Check your IESCO bill. If you still cannot find it, ask your sub-division office or call 118.
My area is not on any list but the power is off. What should I do?
It may be a fault, not a schedule. Call the IESCO helpline 118 and note your complaint number. If power cuts happen often, IESCO's FAQ suggests contacting your sub-divisional officer.
Sources: iesco.com.pk load-shedding and press release pages (checked 10 October 2026); IESCO FAQs; NEPRA Consumer Service Manual (as published on iesco.com.pk).
