A three-phase electricity connection is used for bigger loads, such as large homes, shops, workshops and some factories. You apply to your power company (DISCO), pay a demand notice and then the company installs the meter. Costs have gone up, and new fixed charges apply to three-phase users in 2026. Here are the steps, documents, fees and what the sources do not say.
Who Supplies Your Connection?
A Zameen guide (14 November 2019) lists the DISCOs: LESCO (Lahore), IESCO (Islamabad), GEPCO (Gujranwala), FESCO (Faisalabad), MEPCO (Multan), PESCO (Peshawar), HESCO (Hyderabad), SEPCO (Sukkur), QESCO (Quetta) and TESCO (tribal areas). It says K-Electric in Karachi has a separate process.
Step 1: Apply Online
The Zameen guide and a BOL News report (28 June 2024) describe the steps for DISCO customers:
- Go to your DISCO’s website and open the “New Connection” tab. For LESCO, BOL gives the address enc.com.pk. Type the address yourself.
- Choose your connection category, enter your CNIC and the property details, and upload scans of your documents.
- Submit the form online.
- Print the form, attach your documents and send them to your DISCO’s office.
The Zameen guide is from 2019, so check your DISCO’s site for the current steps.
Step 2: Get Your Papers Ready
The Zameen guide lists these documents for homes and shops:
- An attested copy of your CNIC.
- Attested CNIC copies of two witnesses. The guide says these are not needed for single-phase meters, which means they may be needed for three-phase.
- Proof of ownership, or a power of attorney if there are several owners, attested by an oath commissioner, notary public or class one officer.
- An affidavit on stamp paper saying the property has no existing connection and no unpaid charges.
- For tenants, a No Objection Certificate from the owner on stamp paper.
Industrial applicants need more, such as a site map. Companies need their incorporation certificate, directors’ CNICs and a company NOC, according to the same guide.
K-Electric Customers in Karachi
K-Electric’s new connection form (July 2026) lists “Single Phase or Three Phase” as options. You also enter the premises size and the total load you need in kilowatts. It says the form is free and lists these basic documents, as they apply:
- Your original CNIC and a copy, and a copy of a witness’s CNIC.
- An NOC from DHA or the housing society, where it applies.
- For tenants, an NOC and tenancy agreement from the landlord.
- A completion plan, approved building plan, layout plan or site plan, depending on the area.
- An ownership document if the name on the bill and CNIC do not match.
After payment, you must get a Test Form from a licensed Electric Inspector of Karachi or their authorised contractor and submit it. The form lists reasons for rejection. They include unpaid dues on the property, a property still under construction, commercial use where you applied as residential, and false information. It also says to pay only through the dedicated payment channels, never to an individual.
Step 3: Wait for the Demand Notice
Zameen says that once your documents are checked, you receive a demand notice. Fake or incomplete documents lead to immediate rejection.
Step 4: Pay the Demand Notice
Pay at the bank named on the notice and give a copy of the paid notice to the DISCO office. Then the office approves the payment and installs the connection, according to BOL and Zameen.
What Does It Cost?
- LESCO demand notice, three-phase: BOL and ARY News (June 2024) report that LESCO raised the fee from Rs33,500 to Rs63,450 from 1 July 2024. That figure is two years old and may have changed. I did not find a 2026 figure.
- Single-phase: ProPakistani (8 September 2025) says LESCO raised the single-phase demand notice fee from Rs13,786, without giving the new amount.
- Smart meter: ProPakistani (31 March 2026) says LESCO raised its single-phase smart meter price from Rs11,665 to Rs17,700. It does not mention three-phase meters, so I do not have that price. The report says each meter comes with a 10-metre cable, longer cables cost extra, and a security deposit depends on your approved load.
Other DISCOs charge their own rates. Ask your DISCO office for the current demand notice before you plan your budget.
New Fixed Charges for Three-Phase Users
ProPakistani (4 March 2026) reports that the government imposed fixed charges on all three-phase consumers, including homes and businesses. It says a 5-kilowatt load carries a minimum fixed charge of Rs1,687, rising to Rs5,062 for 15 kilowatts. Above 15 kilowatts is higher, but no figures are given. It says the charges appear in the current month’s bill, and that private housing societies and solar users are hit hardest. It adds that new solar consumers move from net metering to net billing, with Rs11 per unit paid for surplus electricity.
This conflicts in part with other reports on domestic fixed charges. ARY News (31 March 2026) says domestic fixed charges are Rs200 to Rs675 per kilowatt. Check your own bill. See our guide on how to read the units and charges on an electricity bill.
How Much Load Do You Need?
The K-Electric form asks for your load in kilowatts. I did not find a source that says what load needs three-phase, so ask your DISCO. Choose the load honestly, because fixed charges and the security deposit depend on it.
Beware of Fixers
- Pay only the amount on the official demand notice, at the bank named on it.
- Do not pay a lineman or agent to “speed up” a connection.
- Keep your paid notice and application receipt.
What I Could Not Confirm
- The current three-phase demand notice for any DISCO in 2026.
- The three-phase meter price.
- The load at which three-phase is required.
- The time the DISCO takes to install after payment.
- Whether the 2019 document list is still current.
I could not open the DISCO websites. This is general information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a three-phase connection?
Apply online on your DISCO’s new connection page, send the printed form and documents, pay the demand notice and wait for installation.
What documents do I need?
Your CNIC, two witnesses’ CNICs, proof of ownership, a stamp paper affidavit and, for tenants, the owner’s NOC.
How much is the demand notice?
LESCO’s three-phase fee was Rs63,450 from July 2024. Check the current amount.
Is the application form free?
K-Electric says its form is free.
Are there monthly fixed charges?
Yes. A March 2026 report says three-phase users pay from Rs1,687 for 5 kW.
Can I apply in Karachi?
Yes, through K-Electric’s form, which lists a three-phase option.
Apply on your DISCO’s official site and ask for the current demand notice before you pay.
