When Your MEPCO Meter Is Faulty
If your meter stops working, MEPCO can bill you on an average for at most two months while it replaces the meter. If it was running slow or fast, any catch-up charge or refund is limited to two previous billing cycles. These limits come from NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual.
Last verified: 2 October 2026 against the NEPRA Consumer Service Manual (January 2021) and the MEPCO FAQs. Independent guide, not affiliated with MEPCO, PITC or NEPRA.
A defective meter: average bills
When a meter is defective, NEPRA allows MEPCO to bill on whichever is higher: 100% of the units in the same month last year, or the average of the last eleven months — for a maximum of two months (clause 4.3.1(b)).
MEPCO’s FAQ says such bills are marked “est def”, and that if the meter is not replaced within two to three months you should contact your sub-division.
A slow meter
If a meter is found to be running slow, MEPCO can charge for the energy it failed to record, but for no more than two previous billing cycles (clause 4.3.3(c)(ii)). A charge for deliberate tampering is handled differently, as a detection bill.
A fast meter
If a meter is found to be running fast, MEPCO must credit the excess units for up to two previous billing cycles (clause 4.3.3(c)(iii)).
“New meters run faster”
MEPCO’s FAQ says this is a misconception: new meters record correctly, while old meters tend to slow down with age. A bill can rise after a replacement simply because the old meter was under-recording.
How to report a faulty meter
- Register a non-line complaint on PITC’s complaint system or by SMS to 8118, or tell your sub-division office.
- Note the meter number and photograph the display, with the date.
More routes: MEPCO complaints and helpline. If the bill looks wrong for another reason, see why a MEPCO bill may be too high.