25% of Islamabad consumers get AMI meters

Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has said that nearly 25% of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) consumers have been equipped with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters, which amounts to around 1.1 to 1.2 million meters and is a key step towards modernising the power sector.

Speaking during his visit to the Iesco AMI Control Centre, the minister said that AMI meters were helping control overbilling and the removal of human intervention would further improve transparency in the system.

He noted that AMI meters had a built-in net metering facility and they did not require replacement. Consumers can also access their electricity consumption data through a mobile application and pay their bills easily through One Link.

He said that effective monitoring of around 1.1 to 1.2 million meters from the AMI Control Centre reflects the government's commitment to a technology-driven and transparent system. "This approach is in line with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to provide better services to consumers."

The minister pointed out that in the coming months, particularly after June, consumers would be able to clearly know their electricity bills and understand the system status. He noted that billing-related issues within this consumer base were already being addressed.

Leghari said the government was committed to expanding the modern system in the electricity sector across Pakistan in phases. A programme for the installation of over 10 million AMI meters will be launched soon and single-phase meters will be digitised on priority to improve consumer convenience.

Iesco Chairman Dr Tahir Masood, CEO Chaudhary Khalid Mehmood, Chief Engineer Kamran Aftab and AMI Project Director Mohsin Raza Gilani received the federal minister on his arrival. He was given a detailed briefing on the installation and working of AMI meters.

Company officials said the system helps control electricity theft through the ringing of alarm and event detection. It can reduce the cost of disconnection and reconnection significantly. The system also supports better decision-making based on data, while improving overall transparency.