The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has approved the purchase of 400,000 ordinary static, single-phase meters, reversing its earlier plan to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meters across its network.
According to media reports, the procurement, worth approximately Rs 1.70 billion, has already been set in motion.
LESCO had previously banned static meters and launched a scheme to install AMI smart meters to combat electricity theft and overbilling. Under that previous plan, the price of a single-phase AMI smart meter was fixed at Rs 17,000.
Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Khan Leghari had repeatedly described the smart meter initiative as a significant step toward improving the power distribution system.
However, the renewed decision of LESCO to procure static meters has now raised fresh questions about the future of the smart metering plan.
