LESCO Announces Deadline for Smart Meters in Lahore 2025
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative (Deadline for Smart Meters) to transition its entire Lahore region, comprising 6.7 million electricity consumers, to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) by the year 2029. This ambitious project aims to revolutionize the electricity distribution system by introducing state-of-the-art smart meters across the board. The company has already begun aligning its internal departments to ensure the smooth execution of this transformative plan.
As part of this initiative, Lesco has started installing smart meters for three-phase connections, marking a significant step forward in the modernization of its metering system. These meters will soon replace the traditional ones for all domestic, commercial, and industrial three-phase connections. Speaking about this development, Lesco’s Chief Executive Officer, Shahid Haider, shared insights with Dawn, emphasizing the scale and complexity of the project. “With 6.7 million connections, mostly domestic, it’s impractical to complete this transition in a short period. We require at least five years to shift the entire Lesco region to smart meters, eliminating issues like overbilling by 2029,” he explained.
Progress and Timeline/ Deadline for Smart Meters
Lesco’s efforts are already yielding results for Deadline for Smart Meters, with over 60,000 smart meters installed for small industries and tube wells. An additional 56,000 connections are scheduled for replacement in the near future. Starting July 1, 2024, the installation of AMI meters for domestic three-phase connections will officially commence. This systematic rollout ensures a phased and organized transition for all stakeholders.
The roots of this project can be traced back to 2018, when Lesco conducted a pilot program involving the installation of 18,000 smart meters in areas such as Faizpur, Rachna Town, Bilal Ganj, and Taj Bagh. The success of this pilot provided the confidence to expand the project on a larger scale. These smart meters offer numerous advantages, enabling consumers to monitor their real-time electricity usage on an hourly basis while allowing Lesco to automatically receive and process monthly readings. This eliminates manual readings, significantly reducing errors and curbing risks of corruption such as overbilling and meter tampering.
Support from the Asian Development Bank
A substantial boost to Lesco’s AMI project comes from an Asian Development Bank (ADB) grant, which includes the provision of 131,000 smart meters. These meters will enable the replacement of over 35,000 domestic connections in the coming months. Additionally, Lesco has addressed the shortage of single-phase meters, ensuring that 19,000 new connections and 30,000 replacements are already equipped with smart meters. Another shipment of 80,000 meters is expected within the week, and by the end of the month, 300,000 meters out of a total order of 750,000 will be delivered. The procurement of single-phase smart meters is also underway, with tenders expected to be issued soon for Deadline for Smart Meters.
Modernizing Customer Service
In parallel with its technological advancements for Deadline for Smart Meters, Lesco is making significant strides to enhance its customer service. The company has recently established two new Customer Service Centers in Lahore’s Second and Fifth Circles. These centers aim to provide centralized assistance for consumers, eliminating the need for them to visit the headquarters for routine services such as bill corrections, installment plans, and payment extensions. This development reflects Lesco’s commitment to improving the consumer experience.
During a visit to these newly established centers, Mr. Haider emphasized the importance of public service as a top priority. “All resources will be utilized to ensure high-quality customer support,” he stated. To achieve this, Lesco plans to deploy trained staff who meet international standards, ensuring efficient and professional service delivery. The centers are set to be officially inaugurated later this month, marking another milestone in Lesco’s journey towards modernization.
Benefits of the Transition
The transition to smart meters promises a host of benefits for both consumers and the company. For consumers, real-time monitoring of electricity usage will enable better control over their consumption patterns, potentially leading to cost savings. The elimination of manual meter readings will also reduce billing errors, offering greater transparency and trust in the system. For Lesco, the automated system will streamline operations, minimize human intervention, and significantly reduce the scope for malpractice such as overbilling and tampering.
Moreover, the adoption of advanced technology will enable Lesco to handle the increasing demands of a growing urban population more efficiently. By 2029, when the transition is complete, the Lahore region is expected to have a robust and reliable electricity distribution system, setting a benchmark for other regions in Pakistan.
Conclusion
Lesco’s commitment to modernizing its infrastructure and improving customer service highlights its vision for a more efficient and consumer-friendly electricity distribution system. The transition to an advanced metering infrastructure is a bold step that addresses longstanding issues such as overbilling, manual errors, and inefficiencies in the current system. With the phased rollout of smart meters, supported by international grants and a clear roadmap, Lesco is well on its way to achieving its ambitious goals by 2029. As these changes unfold, the consumers of Lahore can look forward to a more transparent, efficient, and modern electricity service.
Click here if you want to Check your LESCO Online Bill, Also you can calculate your LESCO Bill from here.