The smart metering project’s future appears to be in doubt, as the electricity distribution firms (Discos) have halted it in the middle of its implementation.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had granted a soft credit of more than $1.2 billion for the project, of which $460 million had been issued in the first phase.
The money was intended to be used to install 2.2 million smart meters in the jurisdiction of the Lahore and Islamabad Electric Supply Companies, however it was never used.
The Express Tribune stated, citing official sources, that “the Discos have paused implementation of the project and have begun work on an alternate plan.”
Despite the fact that the financing was not used, the Discos spent approximately Rs. 400 million in advisory and other fees before abandoning the project.
According to the report, a lobby on the board of directors of the Discos offered an alternate concept in which only high-revenue connections would be switched to smart metering.
However, according to the source, inspectors from distribution businesses are already continually monitoring such connections.
“Under the ADB-funded project model, the system was to be upgraded after obtaining data of users, transformers, and feeders along with reducing power theft and technical line losses,” it added.
Discos in Gujranwala, Multan, and Peshawar, on the other hand, have issued tenders for smart meters worth more than Rs. 3 billion.
Meters can only be obtained from a vendor whose products are compatible with the Universal Data Integration Layer (UDIL) software of a USAID-assisted meter data management system, according to the tender materials.
According to the sources, smart meters would be managed from a central location across the country.
“The system would be able to turn off or restore power supply to any meter. Only meters compatible with the UDIL software can be part of the smart metering system,” the source said.
In the meantime, Imtiaz Ahmed, CEO of Power Information Technology Company, told the Express Tribune that the UDIL gateway was the global standard.
“Our system is completely secure and has a firewall installed,” he added. He also stated that a company team provides UDIL certification to meter manufacturing companies.
To read our blog on “Electricity prices to be reduced by K-Electric,” click here.
