Govt urged to replace digital power meters

Demand old analogue ones be reinstalled for domestic users.

PESHAWAR: Residents of various parts of the city have pressed the federal government to replace digital power meters installed in houses. Many of them believe these devices are running faster than the previous analogue ones and have resulted in inflated billing.

The USAID-funded Power Distribution Programme (PDP) is replacing old analogue meters with new ones in Lahore, Faisalabad and Peshawar. Thousands have been changed so far.

The digital power meters provide real-time data to newly-established power distribution control centres. Their readings are considered more accurate than those provided by mechanical meters.

However, residents of Gulberg-IV, Izzat Khan Chowk and Saddar have expressed deep concern due to overbilling and installation of electrostatic meters.

Inconvenienced

Ahmad Khan, a resident of Gulberg, told The Express Tribune the government installed new meters two years ago. Ahmad said he has been receiving heavy power bills even though his power consumption remains minimal.



“My monthly power bill has increased from between Rs1,600 and Rs2,000 per month to over Rs5,000,” Ahmad said.

He added the relevant authorities vowed to resolve the matter.

“But little has been done,” he said. “Residents have approached the relevant offices time and again to install old meters.”

Muhammad Alam, a resident of Saddar, said his power meter was replaced a year ago. Within a month, they began submitting complaints about the meter.

Alam added he has no air conditioner in his room. He runs just three fans and has up to five energy savers. “And yet, my electricity bill amounts to over Rs6,000 a month,” he said. “After the new meters were installed, my bill has increased by 20%.”

The locals said meters should be replaced immediately otherwise they would start a protest against the federal government.

The issue of faster reading by the new digital meters was raised in almost all areas where they were installed.

In October 2014, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s probe commission letter – which was released to the distribution companies – stated the new digital meter runs between 30% and 35% faster than the old ones.

However, the Federal Ministry for Power reportedly rejected the claims by saying the commission should not have reached such a conclusion unless there was a proper investigation into the matter.

Official narrative

Talking to The Express Tribune, Pesco Director General Public Relations Shaukat Afzal said the meters were sensitive in nature and can read even if mobile chargers are plugged in.

He said they were manufactured on international standards and were not reading anything more than actual consumption.

When asked about the PM’s commission report, he expressed his ignorance to the letter, but said he would check records.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.