In short: your sanctioned load is the electrical load, in kW, that LESCO has approved for your connection. It is printed on your electricity bill. Under NEPRA’s 2026 rules, your solar system cannot be bigger than your sanctioned load, and the net billing portal requires at least 5 kW.
To increase it, apply for extension of load through LESCO’s ENC portal (enc.com.pk), pay the demand notice, including a security deposit of Rs 1,220 per additional kW for urban residential connections, and then apply for net billing.
Last updated: 14 September 2026. Based on NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual (revised 2025), the NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026 and the PITC Net Billing Portal guidelines. Sources are listed at the end.
What is sanctioned load?
Sanctioned load is the maximum load LESCO has approved for your premises when your connection was given or last changed. Your meter also records your actual maximum demand (MDI). NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual says meter readers record the monthly MDI on premises with static or digital meters up to 8 kW. If your use goes above your sanctioned load, notices are issued through the bill asking you to regularise the load.
How to find sanctioned load on your LESCO bill
Look at the connection details section of your LESCO bill, near your reference number and tariff. The sanctioned load is shown in kW. You can also view your bill on LESCO’s official website under “Customer Bill”. If you already have net metering, your bill may also show your approved solar (DG) capacity.
Why sanctioned load matters for solar
- Solar size cap: NEPRA’s Prosumer Regulations 2026 say the capacity of a proposed solar facility “shall not exceed the sanctioned load” of the premises. The Net Billing Portal’s installer guidelines repeat this: the applied DG capacity must be less than or equal to the sanctioned load.
- 5 kW minimum for the portal: the guidelines say consumers who do not qualify because of phase or a sanctioned load below 5 kW must first apply for a change of load. The application can continue once conditions are met, including load of at least 5 kW, a tariff where net billing is available, and a paid demand notice.
- No direct change on the portal: “Direct changing of sanctioned load is not allowed”. Extension must be started through the ENC portal.
- Single-phase homes near 5 kW: the Consumer Service Manual says that when the load of a single-phase meter approaches 5 kW, LESCO issues a notice for extension of load and a ToU meter is installed.
How to increase sanctioned load with LESCO
- Decide the load you need. Add up the solar size you plan (for example 10 kW) and your actual household demand. Your sanctioned load must be at least equal to the solar size.
- Go to the ENC portal at enc.com.pk. It serves LESCO and has a section for Extension of Load (Net metering), with downloadable Procedure, Condition, NOC and Affidavit documents, plus undertakings.
- Apply and track the application on the portal.
- Print and pay the demand notice (DN). The portal has options to print the DN, pay the DN and upload the paid DN.
- Connection and meter work. If you are moving from single-phase to three-phase, LESCO carries out the connection change and meter work.
- Apply for net billing on the PITC portal once your load qualifies. See our guide to applying for LESCO net billing in Lahore.
NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual says the procedure for extension or reduction of load for net metering connections is the same as for other connections.
Security deposit for load extension
When you extend your load, the demand notice includes a security deposit for the additional kW. These are the rates in Annexure IV of NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual (revised 2025):
| Connection type | Security deposit |
|---|---|
| Residential (A-1), urban | Rs 1,220 per kW |
| Residential (A-1), rural | Rs 610 per kW |
| Commercial (A-2), urban | Rs 1,810 per kW |
| Commercial (A-2), rural | Rs 920 per kW |
| Industrial B-1 | Rs 1,580 per kW |
| Industrial B-2 | Rs 2,010 per kW |
| Industrial B-3 | Rs 2,890 per kW |
| Industrial B-4 | Rs 3,560 per kW |
Example: an urban home in Lahore extending from 5 kW to 10 kW adds 5 kW, so the security deposit is 5 × Rs 1,220 = Rs 6,100. The demand notice can also include material and installation charges if new cables, a three-phase connection or meter work are needed, so always check the DN amount LESCO issues.
Frequently asked questions
What is sanctioned load in an electricity bill?
It is the load, in kW, that LESCO has approved for your connection. It is printed on your bill and limits how large a solar system you can connect under net billing.
How can I increase sanctioned load with LESCO online?
Apply for extension of load on the ENC portal (enc.com.pk), then print, pay and upload the demand notice. After the load is extended, apply for net billing on the PITC portal.
Can my solar system be bigger than my sanctioned load?
No. Under the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026, the solar capacity cannot exceed the sanctioned load.
What are LESCO load extension charges?
The demand notice includes a security deposit, such as Rs 1,220 per additional kW for urban residential connections under NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual, plus any material and installation costs needed for your connection.
Can I reduce my sanctioned load?
Yes. The Consumer Service Manual allows reduction of load to any lower limit as per the test report, through the same procedure.
اردو خلاصہ
منظور شدہ لوڈ وہ لوڈ (کلو واٹ میں) ہے جو لیسکو نے آپ کے کنکشن کے لیے منظور کیا ہے اور یہ آپ کے بل پر لکھا ہوتا ہے۔ نیپرا کے 2026 کے قواعد کے مطابق سولر سسٹم منظور شدہ لوڈ سے بڑا نہیں ہو سکتا، اور نیٹ بلنگ پورٹل پر کم از کم 5 کلو واٹ لوڈ ضروری ہے۔ لوڈ بڑھانے کے لیے لیسکو کے ENC پورٹل (enc.com.pk) پر ایکسٹینشن آف لوڈ کی درخواست دیں، ڈیمانڈ نوٹس ادا کریں، پھر نیٹ بلنگ کی درخواست دیں۔ شہری رہائشی کنکشن کے لیے سیکیورٹی ڈپازٹ 1,220 روپے فی اضافی کلو واٹ ہے، مثلاً 5 سے 10 کلو واٹ کرنے پر 6,100 روپے۔
Need your load extended for solar?
Solar Net Metering installs solar systems and handles net billing applications in Lahore. Net billing for a 10 kW system with LESCO costs Rs 160,000. Office: 222 Main Boulevard, DHA Phase 6, Lahore.
Sources
- NEPRA Consumer Service Manual (revised 2025): clause 2.14 and Annexure IV
- NEPRA (Prosumer) Regulations 2026, S.R.O. 251(I)/2026
- PITC Net Metering / Net Billing Portal and its installer guidelines
- ENC (Electricity New Connection) portal
Rates are from NEPRA’s Consumer Service Manual; confirm the final amount on the demand notice LESCO issues for your connection.