Islamabad: Federal government on Monday announced a sharp reduction in the prices of electricity meters, offering relief to power consumers and projecting significant national savings driven by increased competition.
Energy Minister Awais Leghari said the reforms would cut smart meter prices by up to 40%, saving consumers and the national exchequer an estimated 150 billion rupees.
Prices fall after competitive reforms
Speaking to reporters, Leghari said the price of three-phase smart meters had dropped to 25,000 rupees from 45,000 rupees, while the cost of single-phase meters had been reduced by 7,000 rupees.
He attributed the decline to policy changes aimed at strengthening competition, including amendments to Pakistan Engineering Council regulations that removed barriers for suppliers.
As a result, international companies participated actively in the procurement process, increasing market competition and driving prices lower, he said.
Relief for electricity consumers
Transitioning to consumer impact, Leghari said the reduced prices would directly benefit electricity users, particularly those required to install smart meters under demand notices.
“With lower meter costs, consumers will now pay significantly less under demand notices,” he said.
He added that smart meters would also help address long-standing issues in the power sector, including inaccurate meter readings and electricity theft, through real-time monitoring.
Technology to improve billing and payments
Moreover, Leghari said the rollout of smart meters would introduce prepaid electricity options, allowing consumers to better manage their power usage and expenses.
The government views the initiative as part of broader efforts to modernize the electricity distribution system, improve transparency, and reduce losses at distribution companies.
Concluding his remarks, Leghari said continued reforms would focus on efficiency and consumer relief, while ensuring sustainable savings across the power sector.
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