ISLAMABAD, Oct 31 (APP): The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has taken a major step toward improving customer service and operational efficiency through the large-scale rollout of smart meters across electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan.
A spokesperson of the Power Division stated on Friday that metering plays a vital role as the key interface between the customer and the service provider. In line with the Ministry’s declaration of 2025–26 as the “Year of Customer Service Improvement”, DISCOs have embarked on a comprehensive digitalization drive to modernize their infrastructure. This initiative aims to ensure real-time data availability, transparency, and enhanced customer experience.
Recognizing that the pricing of smart meters was a major impediment in this transformation, the Power Division actively intervened to rationalize costs. Out of nearly 38 million electricity consumers nationwide, around 80% are single-phase users. Until recently, the cost of a single-phase smart meter was around Rs 20,000 — significantly higher than international benchmarks. Through strategic interventions, open and transparent procurement, and continuous monitoring, the price has now been reduced to approximately Rs 15,000.
The spokesperson highlighted that this intervention alone will result in an estimated annual national saving of around Rs 25 billion considering 5 million meter replacement per annum. The reduced meter cost will also ease the financial burden on consumers applying for smart meters, making advanced technology more affordable and accessible. It is further anticipated that through upcoming international competitive bidding processes, the prices will decline even further.
This intervention will also ensure significant improvement in the meter reading process, as human involvement will be minimal. Automated and remote readings will not only enhance accuracy but also build consumer trust in the billing system. The elimination of manual readings will address long-standing concerns about faulty or disputed readings, fostering a more transparent and reliable relationship between consumers and their respective DISCOs.
Once deployed, smart meters will enable consumers to monitor their electricity usage in real time through mobile applications equipped with modern features. This will empower consumers to better control their energy consumption and manage their electricity costs.
Smart meters will bring clear benefits for both consumers and power distribution companies (DISCOs). For consumers, they will make it possible to track electricity use in real time and manage energy consumption and bills more easily. The meters will also provide accurate, tamper-proof readings and support future prepaid metering options.
For DISCOs, smart meters will allow remote meter reading, ensure more accurate billing, and help resolve complaints more quickly. They will also improve visibility and control of the power network, enable real-time detection of outages, speed up fault restoration, and strengthen safety and daily operations.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the Power Division’s continued efforts to digitalize Pakistan’s power sector and provide efficient, transparent, and customer-centric electricity services. It is a key step toward the digitalization of the power distribution system, which remains a crucial part of the ongoing power sector reform agenda of the Government of Pakistan.