Quick answer: the easiest way to recover a lost IESCO reference number is to find anything that came from your last bill: an old paper bill, a photo, a payment receipt or a saved biller in your banking app. If you have nothing, call 118 or visit your IESCO sub-division office or a Customer Facilitation Centre with your CNIC and full address. There is no official online search by CNIC or name.
Your reference number (in Roman Urdu, "bijli bill ka reference number" or "hawala number") is the 14-digit number you need to check, download or pay an IESCO bill. Here is how to get it back, in the order we recommend.
First, know what you are looking for
- The IESCO reference number is 14 digits, usually followed by a letter such as U or R.
- Your bill also shows a separate Customer ID. The official PITC IESCO bill page accepts either number.
- Rumours of a "17-digit" IESCO number are wrong. See IESCO new reference number 2026 for what really changed.
1. Check an old bill, photo or WhatsApp
Any IESCO bill for the same connection, even one from years ago, carries the reference number and Customer ID. Look in:
- files, drawers or the place where bills are usually kept;
- your phone gallery (search for "IESCO" or "bill");
- WhatsApp chats where a family member or landlord may have sent a bill photo.
If the old bill is from before July 2026 and you live in Rawalpindi with an AMI meter, the number may have changed. Convert it on IESCO's Search Reference Number page by entering the 14 digits only.
2. Look in your payment app or bank receipts
If you have ever paid this bill online, your banking app, JazzCash or Easypaisa account usually keeps the payment in its history or as a saved biller. Open the past transaction or saved biller to see the consumer/reference number you paid. A bank counter receipt normally shows it too.
3. Use your Customer ID instead
If you have the Customer ID but not the reference number, open bill.pitc.com.pk/iescobill, choose the Customer ID option and enter it. Your bill opens with the reference number printed at the top. Note it down for next time.
4. Ask your landlord, owner or previous occupant
Tenants often never see the bill. The property owner or the person whose name is on the bill will usually have the reference number in their phone or files.
5. Call the IESCO helpline 118
IESCO's helpline is 118 (it also lists SMS 8118). Before calling, keep these ready:
- the name of the connection holder (the name on the bill);
- the complete address, with house number, street and sector or mohalla;
- your CNIC;
- the meter number, if you can read it from the meter.
If the helpline is busy, IESCO's own FAQ suggests trying the control centre or other official numbers. See our IESCO complaint and helpline guide.
6. Visit your sub-division office or a Customer Facilitation Centre
This always works. IESCO's FAQ confirms that duplicate bills are available at its customer service centres. Take your original CNIC, the full address, and if possible a photo of the meter showing its number. If you are a tenant, take the owner's details as well. Staff can search their records and print a duplicate bill with the reference number.
Find the office for your area in our IESCO office and helpline numbers directory.
What does not work (and what to avoid)
| Method | Does it find your reference number? |
|---|---|
| Searching by CNIC on the PITC bill site | No. The site searches by reference number or Customer ID only. |
| Searching by name | No official online option. |
| Searching by meter number online | No official online option. Use it at the office instead. |
| IESCO "Search Reference Number" page | Only if you already have an old or new reference number. It converts one to the other. |
| CNIC registration on mnr.pitc.com.pk | No. That page registers the occupant's CNIC and itself asks for your reference number first. |
Be careful with unofficial sites and apps that promise "bill by CNIC" or ask for your CNIC and phone number to "find" your reference number. Official bill access is through bill.pitc.com.pk and iesco.com.pk. More on this in can you check an IESCO bill by CNIC, name or meter number?
Once you have it: save it
- Save the reference number in your phone contacts or notes, for example as "IESCO Ref".
- Add it as a saved biller in your payment app.
- Bookmark our IESCO bill check page so next month takes a few seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my IESCO reference number online by CNIC?
No. The official PITC bill page only searches by reference number or Customer ID, and IESCO's own lookup needs an old or new reference number. There is no official online search by CNIC. Visit your sub-division office or a Customer Facilitation Centre instead.
Where is the reference number on an IESCO bill?
It is printed near the top of the bill: 14 digits, usually followed by a letter such as U or R. When you type it on the PITC site, enter the digits as shown and select or add the letter if the form asks for it.
Can IESCO helpline 118 tell me my reference number?
You can call 118 and ask. Keep your CNIC, the connection holder's name and the full address ready. If the call centre cannot help, the sub-division office that serves your area can look up your connection.
I have an old reference number from before July 2026. Will it still work?
If you are an AMI consumer in Rawalpindi City or Cantt circle, your number may have changed. Enter the old 14-digit number on iesco.com.pk/search-reference-number to see the new one.
Is the Customer ID the same as the reference number?
No. They are two different numbers printed on the same bill. The PITC IESCO bill page accepts either one, so the Customer ID is a useful backup if you lose the reference number.
