One LESCO meter. Two different "change dates". And months of bills that had to be redone.
That is a real case decided by NEPRA's Appellate Board in September 2025. Before we look at it, open your latest bill on our LESCO bill check page. Look at the units line. Does it say DEF EST? Then this guide is for you.
Case file
- June 2023: a domestic LESCO consumer's meter was found defective. LESCO started billing with the DEF-EST code.
- December 2023: the consumer said the meter was replaced in this month.
- March 2024: LESCO's meter change order (MCO) was entered in the system.
- May 2024: the consumer challenged the bills before the Provincial Office of Inspection (POI).
- December 2024: the POI cancelled the bills for January to March 2024 and ordered them revised on the new meter's readings.
- September 2025: LESCO appealed. NEPRA's Appellate Board noted that LESCO did not provide the MCO. PITC data showed the old meter was defective until January 2024. So estimated bills stand only until January 2024. From then on, bills follow the new meter's actual readings, and the account is to be overhauled.
Signs of a faulty meter
- DEF EST on the bill. LESCO's FAQ says this means the meter has been declared defective and you are getting an estimated bill based on the same months of last year.
- A burnt or blank meter. NEPRA's manual covers burnt meters and "display wash", where the screen no longer shows readings.
- Slow, fast or creeping. NEPRA's 2026 rules list slow, fast, creeping, stuck-up and burnt meters as defects LESCO must inspect.
Who pays for the new meter
| Why the meter failed | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Defective, damaged, burnt, display wash, internal fault or weather, not the consumer's fault | LESCO |
| Slow from age or other reasons not linked to theft; fast for any reason | LESCO |
| Damaged by the consumer's fault, such as overloading or faulty house wiring | Consumer |
| Missing or damaged in an accident | Consumer if the meter was at the premises; LESCO if it was on a pole or other structure |
Source: NEPRA Consumer Service Manual, clause 4.4. If the consumer must pay, LESCO may recover the cost through the electricity bill so the change is not delayed.
If the fault is yours, NEPRA's 2026 rules say LESCO should issue the demand notice within 3 days and replace the meter within 7 days of payment. If LESCO has no meters in stock, the manual says you may be asked to buy an approved meter from LESCO's approved vendors. No meter rent is charged when you paid for the meter.
Your meter change checklist
- Photograph the meter and its reading.
- Write down the meter number from the meter.
- Keep your last few bills and paid receipts.
- Inform LESCO. It issues a demand notice for the meter challenge fee: Rs 500 single phase, Rs 1,000 three phase.
- Be there. LESCO checks within 7 working days of payment, in your presence.
- Too fast? Changed at LESCO's cost, with credit for up to two previous billing cycles. Too slow? Changed at LESCO's cost, and the slowness is charged for two previous billing cycles.
- Replacement is due immediately, or within two billing cycles if meters are not available.
- Estimated billing is allowed for a maximum of two months. No back charges if the meter was correct until the last billing cycle.
- Display wash? The old meter's data should be retrieved. If it is not retrieved within three months (six if sent to the maker), your account is not debited.
- Photograph the old meter's final reading and the new meter's first reading, with the date.
- Check your next bill. With an MCO, NEPRA says the snapshot of the old meter's final reading is also printed.
- Still DEF EST after 2 to 3 months? LESCO's FAQ says contact your sub-division.
Want an outside check? You can give LESCO written notice that you have asked the Electric Inspector (POI) to test the meter. NEPRA's manual says LESCO must not remove the meter until the POI has tested it. The POI should check it within one month.
Solar user? For net metering, exported units are credited on an average basis for up to two months, and the meter must be replaced within two billing cycles. See our LESCO net metering and green meter guide. Got a smart meter? Read what AMI meters are.
"My new meter runs faster"
"It is not true. The fact is that the new meter runs correctly. It was the old meter which had become slow and sluggish due to age and/or other external/internal causes."
LESCO FAQ, "Why does my new meter run faster than the old meter?"
Still not convinced? You have the right to ask for the meter check above. If the bill itself looks wrong, take it up with your sub-division. Find the office in our LESCO helpline and office directory.
Meter change FAQs
How long does LESCO have to replace a defective meter?
NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual says a defective or burnt meter must be replaced immediately, or within two billing cycles if meters are not available.
Do I have to pay for a LESCO meter change?
It depends on the cause. NEPRA's manual says LESCO pays when the meter fails from age, weather, an internal fault or other reasons that are not your fault, and for any fastness. You pay when the damage is your fault, such as overloading or faulty house wiring, or when a meter installed at your premises goes missing or is damaged in an accident.
What does DEF EST mean on my LESCO bill?
LESCO's FAQ says DEF EST means your meter has been declared defective and you are getting an estimated bill. The bill also shows how long it has been estimated. If the meter is not replaced within 2 to 3 months, LESCO says to contact your sub-division.
How is my bill worked out while the meter is faulty?
On an average basis: 100% of the units used in the same months of the previous year, or the average of the last eleven months, whichever is higher. NEPRA's manual allows this for a maximum of two months.
Can I ask LESCO to test my meter?
Yes. Under NEPRA's manual, LESCO issues a demand notice for a meter challenge fee of Rs 500 for single phase or Rs 1,000 for three phase. It must then check the meter in your presence within seven working days of payment.
Where do I apply for a meter change?
Start at your LESCO sub-division office. NEPRA's manual says billing complaints, including replacement of defective meters, are registered at the sub-divisional office, a consumer service centre or the one-window desk.
Sources: LESCO FAQs (lesco.gov.pk), "Why does my new meter run faster than the old meter which has been replaced by LESCO?" and "I am receiving defective estimated (DEF EST) reading on my bill"; NEPRA revised Consumer Service Manual sent to all distribution companies on 26 November 2025, chapter 4 (clauses 4.1, 4.3.1 to 4.3.5, 4.4), clause 6.4.1 (bill contents) and clause 10.3; NEPRA Performance Standards (Distribution) Regulations 2026, regulation on defective meters and Schedule I; NEPRA Appellate Board decision of 24 September 2025, Appeal No. 022/2025 (LESCO). Last checked: 12 Oct 2026.
