During high demand, like hot days or technical issues, MEPCO may not have enough power for everyone, so it uses load shedding: planned power outages in certain areas. Staying updated on the schedule helps with planning, safety, and comfort, and ensures fair power distribution, like everyone taking turns on a swing.

Multan Electric Power Company is one of the several companies in Pakistan that buys large amounts of electricity from power plants, like thermal (coal or gas), hydel (water), or solar plants, and then sends it out over high-voltage lines to substations.

Consumer Challenges Arising from Unscheduled Power Interruptions

Even with planned load shedding, sometimes power goes off unexpectedly. This can happen because of sudden equipment failures, storms, or other emergencies. When that happens, families and businesses face a bunch of headaches:

1. Food Spoilage

With refrigerators off for hours, milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables can go bad.
This forces people to buy more groceries or toss spoiled food, wasting money.

2. Interrupted Learning and Work

Students trying to do homework on computers or read under electric lamps suddenly lose light and power.
Offices and shops that rely on computers, printers, or cash registers have to stop, slowing down business.

3. Communication Breakdowns

Charging phones and modems is tricky when power is unpredictable, making it hard to call for help or stay connected.
Internet routers also lose power, cutting off online classes or video calls.

4. Medical Equipment Risks

Homes with patients who use oxygen machines, nebulizers, or other electric medical devices face real danger if power cuts last too long.
Hospitals can switch to generators, but smaller clinics may struggle without backup.

5. Safety Concerns

Dark streets and homes can lead to more accidents or make people feel unsafe.
Candles and kerosene lamps used without care can start fires.

6. Economic Losses for Businesses

Factories that run heavy machinery may have to scrap partially finished products if machines stop mid‑cycle.
Small shops lose sales when the lights are off, and customers avoid areas with no power.

7. Inconvenience and Stress

Families scramble to find candles or flashlights.
Day‑to‑day tasks like cooking, ironing clothes, or heating water become a complicated chore list.

Purpose of the User Guide on Checking MEPCO’s Monthly Load Shedding Timetable

This article helps you find MEPCO’s monthly load shedding schedule so you can plan and avoid surprise outages.

It offers step-by-step instructions with easy directions and screenshots, alternative ways to check updates, practical tips for staying prepared, and advice on sharing the info with your community for smoother daily life.

MEPCO and Its Service Areas

MEPCO, the main electricity provider for Southern Punjab, was set up in 1998 when Pakistan’s power sector was reorganized. Licensed by NEPRA, it delivers power to homes, schools, shops, and farms across 13 districts from Multan and Bahawalpur to Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh, serving about 34 million people.

With its headquarters in Multan and local offices in each district, MEPCO handles everything from new connections and billing questions to fixing broken wires. Whether you live in a busy city or a quiet village, MEPCO works behind the scenes through transformers, feeders, and field teams to make sure your lights turn on whenever you flip the switch.

Role of MEPCO in Electricity Distribution in Southern Punjab

MEPCO’s job is like managing a giant delivery network—but instead of trucks, it uses wires and transformers to carry electricity from power plants to your home. Here’s how the journey works:

High‑Voltage Transmission: Electricity is first shipped in bulk along high‑voltage lines (up to 132 kV) to MEPCO’s grid stations.
Stepping Down Voltage: At each grid station, transformers lower the voltage to distribution levels (typically 11 kV). This makes the electricity safe for local delivery.
Distribution via Feeders: Over 672 feeders, thick cables that act like neighborhood “branches,” power travels through more than 82,000 km of lines toward towns and villages.
Local Transformer Reduction: Near your street, smaller transformers cut the voltage down again to 230 V, the level your home appliances need.
Metering and Billing: Each building has an electric meter. MEPCO reads these meters to see how much power you used, then sends out bills accordingly.

Why Load Shedding Happens

Demand-Supply Gap: When electricity demand, especially on hot days, exceeds what power plants can supply, scheduled outages help prevent system overload.
Maintenance and Repairs: Load shedding allows engineers to safely repair worn-out wires, transformers, and substations without working on live lines.
Grid Stability: Temporarily cutting power in certain areas helps balance the electricity grid and prevents large-scale blackouts.

Impact on Consumers and Businesses

1. Homes and Families:

Food Safety: Power cuts can spoil food if refrigerators and freezers are off for too long.
Homework and Study: Students may struggle with assignments or online classes due to a loss of light and internet.
Comfort: Fans and ACs stop during outages, making it hard to stay cool.

2. Small Shops and Street Vendors:

Sales Slowdown: Shops without lights may lose walk-in customers.
Food Stalls: Vendors using electric tools must pause work or risk food spoilage.

3. Offices and Factories:

Productivity Drops: Power cuts stop computers and machines, halting work.
Equipment Damage: Sudden power return can damage electronics with voltage surges.

4. Public Services:

Schools and Hospitals: Outages affect essential equipment unless reliable backup power is in place.
Street Lighting: Power cuts make roads and sidewalks darker and less safe at night.

How to Check MEPCO’s Load Shedding Schedule Online

Finding out when the lights will go off is as easy as following a treasure map. Here’s how you can see MEPCO’s monthly blackout plan on the internet:

Step‑by‑Step Guide on the Official Website

Open Your Browser

On your computer, tablet, or phone, tap or click your favorite browser (like Chrome or Safari).

Go to MEPCO’s Website
Find the Load Shedding Section

On the home page, look for a menu item or button labeled “Load Shedding Schedule”. It might be under “Customer Services” or “Information.”

Choose Your Region or Feeder

You will see a list of areas or feeder lines (these are like little branches of the power network).
Click on the name of your district or feeder number. This tells MEPCO exactly where you live.

View the Schedule

A table will pop up showing days of the month across the top and time blocks down the side. Colored boxes mark when electricity is off.
You can download the chart as a PDF or print it to stick on your fridge.

Alternative Proceed: MEPCO IT Portal

If you want more details or prefer a personalized schedule, try MEPCO’s IT portal:

Visit the IT Portal

In your browser, go to mepco‑it.com.pk.

Log In

Enter the username and password you created when you registered. (If you haven’t registered yet, click “Sign Up” and use your customer reference number from your bill.)

Go to Load Management

Once logged in, find the “Load Management” or “Schedules” section in the menu.

Select Your Feeder

Choose your Grid Station first, then pick your specific Feeder.

See and Save Your Timetable

The portal will show your feeder’s exact outage blocks for the month.
You can export or print this file for easy reference.

MEPCO’s Customer Complaint Management System (CCMS)

1. Open the CCMS Portal

Launch Your Browser

On a computer, tablet, or phone, tap or click your favorite web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari).

Go to the Address

Type ccms.pitc.com.pk into the address bar and press Enter.
You’ll see the CCMS home page, which looks like a simple search box and a few instructions.

2. Search by Grid Station

Find the “Grid Station” Field

On the CCMS page, look for a box labeled Grid Station.

Enter Your Grid Station Name

If you know the name of your local grid station (for example, “Multan East” or “Dera Ghazi Khan South”), type it in.

Click “Search.”

Press the search button or hit Enter.
A table will appear showing the days of the month and the time blocks when power will be switched off for that entire grid station.

3. Search by Feeder

Locate the “Feeder” Box

On the same page, you’ll see another field labeled Feeder.

Enter Your Feeder Number

Feeders are numbered codes (like “FDR-1234”) that serve your neighborhood.
Type your feeder code exactly as it appears on your MEPCO bill or earlier schedule print‑out.

Hit “Search.”

The portal returns a chart with precise outage times just for that feeder.
This is the most accurate way to see when your power will be off, rather than the whole grid station.

4. Search by City or Town

Use the “City” Field

If you don’t know your grid station or feeder number, find the box labeled City.

Type Your City or Village Name

For example, enter “Vehari” or “Lodhran.”

Search and View

You’ll get a timetable showing all feeders in that town. Scroll down to find yours by matching nearby landmarks or asking neighbors for the feeder code.

5. Reading and Saving Your Schedule

Table Layout: Days of the month run across the top; time blocks (“8 am – 10 am,” “2 pm – 4 pm”) go down the side.
Colored Blocks: Mark the hours when electricity is off.
Download/Print: Look for a print icon or “Download PDF” link to save the schedule on your computer or print a paper copy.

Why the CCMS Portal Helps

Quick Updates: If MEPCO makes last‑minute changes, like emergency repairs, the CCMS often updates faster than the main website.
No Login Needed: You don’t need a username or password; anyone can search.
Share easily: Copy the page link or send a screenshot to friends, family, or your local WhatsApp group so everyone stays informed.

MEPCO Helpline and Customer Support

When the lights go out or you have a question about your electricity bill, MEPCO’s friendly support team is just a phone call or a click away. Whether you need to report a power problem, ask about your charges, or learn when load shedding will happen next, here’s how you can reach out and get help fast.

1. Toll-Free Number for Quick Help: 0800-63726

This number won’t cost you a single rupee!
You can call from any landline or mobile in Pakistan.
When you dial, you’ll hear a friendly voice guiding you through menu options.

Tips for Using the Toll-Free Line:

Have Your Customer Reference Number Ready

Check your electricity bill; it’s usually a long number printed at the top.
Telling the agent your reference number helps them find your account right away.

Speak Clearly

Say your district (like Multan, Bahawalpur, or Dera Ghazi Khan) and feeder number if you know them.
Explain your issue: “I want to report a power outage on my street,” or “I have a question about my bill.”

Take Notes

Write down the agent’s name and any ticket or complaint number they give you.
This helps if you need to follow up later.

2. Multan Power Control Center

If you live near Multan or want to reach a local office directly, you can call the Multan Power Control Center during working hours:

061-9210334
061-9210389
061-6784815

These lines connect you to MEPCO’s regional team, who monitor electricity flow in real time. They can:

Report sudden outages or faults in your area.
Give you updates on emergency repairs.
Answer questions about upcoming maintenance or load shedding changes.

3. Online Support via MEPCO Bill Portal

If you prefer typing instead of talking, visit mepcobill.pk on your computer or phone:

Open Your Browser and type mepcobill.pk.
Find “Contact Us” or “Help” on the home page.
Fill Out the Form

Enter your name, customer reference number, email, and phone.
Select the topic (billing, load shedding, new connection, etc.).
Write a clear description of your question or complaint.

Submit and wait for MEPCO to reply by email or SMS.

Benefits of Online Support:

You have a written record of your request.
You can attach photos (for example, a snapped meter reading or a picture of a broken wire).
MEPCO can send you updates directly to your inbox.

Additional Customer Service Tips

Call During Off-Peak Hours: Early morning or late afternoon calls often connect faster.
Be Polite and Patient: Agents help many callers each day—kindness goes a long way.
Follow Up if Needed: If your issue isn’t resolved in a few days, call again and refer to your original ticket number.
Share with Neighbors: If you learn of a scheduled outage or emergency repair, let your neighbors know so they can plan too.

Why MEPCO Support Matters

Having reliable help at your fingertips makes life easier. With MEPCO’s toll-free line, regional control center, and online portal, you can:

Report Outages Quickly and get crews dispatched.
Ask Billing Questions without visiting an office.
Stay Informed about load shedding or emergency repairs.

How to Handle Load Shedding Hours

1. Keep Devices Charged and Have Backup Power Solutions

Imagine you’re playing your favorite game on a tablet or watching a cartoon on a phone, then suddenly the screen goes dark! To avoid that, make device-charging part of your daily routine:

Morning Charge-Up: Right after breakfast, plug in all your phones, tablets, power banks, and rechargeable flashlights. A full battery in the morning means you’ll have hours of play, study, or calls before dinner.
Power Banks Are Heroes: A small power bank (a portable battery) can keep a phone or tablet going for two or three more hours. Charge your power bank whenever you charge your phone.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): If you have a UPS for your computer or router, it will keep them running for a little while, enough to save your school project or finish an important call.
Solar Chargers: In sunny places, a tiny solar panel can top up a small battery or power bank. Put it by a window or on the balcony so it soaks up sunshine all day!

2. Schedule Essential Tasks Around Known Load Shedding Times

When you know exactly when your lights will go off, you can plan your day like a pro:

Check the Timetable: Use MEPCO’s monthly schedule (online or printed) to see your outage blocks. Color-code them on a chart: red for off, green for on.
Homework and Study: Do your most important schoolwork during the green blocks. If your timetable shows power from 9 am to 11 am, make that your “study zone.”
Cooking and Chores: Run the washing machine, iron clothes, or cook meals right after a green block begins, so your appliances have a good hour or two to finish.
Play and Break Times: When the chart shows red (no power), use that time for games that don’t need electricity—board games, drawing, or reading stories by flashlight.
Family Planning: Share the chart with your parents so they can schedule work calls or meetings when the power is on, too.

3. Stay Informed Through MEPCO’s Official Channels and Updates

Just like you check the weather before going out, keep an eye on power updates so you’re never surprised:

Official Website: Bookmark www.mepco.com.pk and visit the “Load Shedding Schedule” section each month.
IT Portal Alerts: If you’re registered on mepco-it.com.pk, sign up for SMS or email alerts. MEPCO will notify you if your schedule changes.
CCMS Portal: For emergency updates, use ccms.pitc.com.pk. No login needed, just enter your feeder number or city name.
Helpline Calls: If something seems wrong (like power stays off longer than the schedule says), ring 0800-63726 and report it. MEPCO can tell you what’s happening.
Community Groups: Join a local WhatsApp or Facebook group where neighbors share quick news about unexpected outages or restorations.

Bonus Tip:

Load Shedding Kit: Create a basket with flashlights, extra batteries, LED candles, and a printed timetable. Keep it by the door so everyone can grab it.
Family Game Hour: Use the dark time to play charades, tell stories, or have a mini-campout in the living room.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can I check MEPCO’s load shedding schedule for my area?

Visit MEPCO’s official website or MEPCO IT Portal and enter your area details.

2. Is there a mobile app to view MEPCO’s load shedding timetable?

Yes, the MEPCO Smart App provides load shedding schedules and energy consumption details.

3. How often does MEPCO update the load shedding schedule?

Schedules are updated regularly, especially during maintenance or unforeseen outages.

4. Can I receive notifications about upcoming load shedding?

The MEPCO Smart App sends notifications regarding scheduled outages.

5. What should I do if my area experiences unscheduled load shedding?

Report it via the CCMS portal or call the helpline numbers provided.

6. How do I report a power outage to MEPCO?

Use the CCMS portal or contact the helpline at 0800-63726.

7. Are there any exemptions for hospitals or schools during load shedding?

Certain critical institutions may be exempted; however, this varies based on MEPCO’s policies.

8. How does MEPCO determine the load shedding schedule?

Based on electricity demand, supply constraints, and maintenance requirements.

9. Can I access the load shedding schedule without logging in?

Yes, general schedules are available without login on MEPCO’s official website.

10. What is the CCMS portal, and how do I use it?

The CCMS portal allows consumers to register complaints and check feeder-specific schedules. Access it here.

11. How do I find my feeder name or code?

Check your electricity bill or use the CCMS portal by entering your area details.

12. Does MEPCO provide schedules for the entire month?

Yes, monthly schedules are available, especially for planned maintenance.

13. Are there any areas with more frequent load shedding?

Areas with higher line losses or technical issues may experience more frequent outages.

14. How can businesses plan around load shedding schedules?

Monitor schedules regularly and invest in backup power solutions to ensure continuity.

15. Is there a difference between scheduled and unscheduled load shedding?

Scheduled load shedding is planned and notified in advance; unscheduled occurs due to unforeseen issues.

16. How reliable is the online load-shedding schedule?

While generally accurate, unforeseen circumstances can lead to deviations.

17. Can I get a printed copy of the load shedding timetable?

You can print the schedule from MEPCO’s website or request one from local MEPCO offices.

18. What are MEPCO’s customer service hours?

Customer service is typically available during business hours; however, helplines operate 24/7.

19. How do I complain if the schedule is not followed?

Use the CCMS portal or call the helpline numbers provided.

20. Where can I find updates on emergency power outages?

Check MEPCO’s official website, social media channels, or the MEPCO Smart App for real-time updates.

Conclusion

Load shedding doesn’t have to leave you in the dark or cause chaos at home. By keeping your devices charged, using backup power like power banks or a small UPS, and planning important tasks during times when the lights are on, you’ll stay productive and comfortable.

Always check MEPCO’s official schedule on their website or IT portal, and use the CCMS portal or helpline if you need last-minute updates. Turn outage hours into an opportunity for family games, reading, or creativity with flashlights and battery-powered lamps.

With a little preparation and a “load shedding kit” on hand, you’ll handle every power pause with ease and maybe even have some fun along the way.