The government has ordered reforms to Pakistan's electricity detection billing system, moving toward digitized and automated billing to curb inflated bills, reduce human intervention and strengthen consumer protections, the Power Division said Friday.

The decision, announced under Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, follows concerns that estimated consumption used in detection bills for faulty or malfunctioning meters has sometimes exceeded actual usage, leaving consumers with inflated charges and lengthy grievance procedures.

Under the reforms, distribution companies have been directed to make necessary changes to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (NEPRA) Consumer Service Manual and take other measures to implement the new system.

The Power Division said the automated mechanism would minimize discretionary powers and human intervention in detection billing, addressing concerns over transparency and possible irregularities in the existing system. Detection billing and related recovery will also be reviewed monthly under the new mechanism.

The monitoring is intended to flag overbilling and abnormal consumption patterns early, allowing distribution companies to take corrective action instead of allowing disputed bills to accumulate. The Power Division said the reforms form part of an effort to overhaul the power sector and improve consumer services. Leghari said the primary objective of the reforms was to provide convenience to electricity consumers while protecting their rights. The minister said automation would improve transparency in billing, strengthen consumer safeguards and help restore public confidence in the power system.