ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has released a research report emphasizing the urgent need for power sector reforms and the nationwide implementation of smart meters.
According to the study, household consumers using smart meters could reduce their electricity bills by up to 17%. The research, conducted in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Sukkur, highlights strong consumer interest in the technology.
The report reveals that 79% of surveyed participants expressed willingness to adopt smart meters, with many prepared to bear the initial installation costs due to their long-term financial benefits.
PIDE further emphasized that integrating smart metering systems could significantly enhance revenue collection for power distribution companies (DISCOs), reducing financial losses and inefficiencies.
Describing Pakistan’s electricity sector as being at a critical turning point, the report urges the government to modernize billing and metering systems. The country has relied on a manual billing system for over two decades, leading to billing errors, financial losses, and transmission inefficiencies.
PIDE warns that Pakistan’s power sector is grappling with multiple challenges, including outdated infrastructure, electricity theft, and revenue collection issues, which contribute to financial instability.
To address these concerns, the report strongly recommends the implementation of Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This technology would enable transparent, data-driven electricity management, improving efficiency, accuracy, and financial sustainability in the power sector.
Sarah Ahmed
March 11, 2025 at 6:45 am
This article effectively highlights the importance of smart meters in tackling Pakistan’s power sector challenges. The PIDE report makes a compelling case for modernizing the country’s metering systems, with smart meters offering both financial savings for consumers and improvements in revenue collection for power companies. Great analysis of the potential benefits for the sector!