Lesco aims to cover Lahore with smart metering by 2029

The entire Lahore region, which consists of 6.7 million electricity consumers, is to be shifted to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) by 2029 as the departments concerned of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) are being aligned with each other these days.

Lesco has initiated the installation of smart meters for three-phase connections, including domestic, commercial, and industrial, marking a major step in modernizing the power distribution system. This effort is part of a five-year plan to replace all traditional meters with smart meters by 2029. Lesco CEO Shahid Haider stated that with 6.7 million connections, most of them domestic, the complete transition to smart meters will take at least five years.

So far, over 60,000 meters have been replaced with smart meters at small industries and tube wells, with an additional 56,000 connections set to be upgraded soon. Starting from July 1, 2024, AMI meters will be installed for each domestic three-phase connection. The new system will allow consumers to monitor their meter readings at any time, even on an hourly basis, and automatically transmit readings to the control room for faster billing. This shift will also reduce overbilling and corruption by eliminating the outdated manual reading system.

Furthermore, under a grant from the Asian Development Bank, Lesco will receive 131000 smart meters, enabling the replacement of 35000 domestic connections in the coming months. The issue of single-phase meter shortages has also been addressed, with new meters being provided for new connections and replacements.

To improve customer service, Lesco has opened two new customer service centers in Lahore. These centers will offer services such as bill corrections, installment plans, and due date extensions, providing easier access to Lesco services and reducing the need for residents to visit the main office.