Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the swift installation of smart meters in a bid to improve transparency in the electricity billing process and curb electricity theft.
This directive came during a meeting where the performance of key Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs), namely Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), was reviewed.
PM Shehbaz voiced his dissatisfaction with instances of overbilling, stressing that strict actions would be taken against any officials involved in such practices.
He also highlighted concerns over delays in appointing Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for these companies and instructed that the appointments be made through a transparent and timely process.
The prime minister emphasized that all recruitment within the companies must adhere to strict merit-based standards to ensure fairness and transparency.
The meeting also assessed the progress of various operational targets. While recovery rates for these companies showed positive results—96.82% for LESCO, 87.98% for PESCO, and 97.57% for FESCO—the issue of transmission and distribution losses remained a significant challenge.
The losses stood at 13.04% for LESCO, 33% for PESCO, and 6.01% for FESCO, indicating areas that require urgent attention.
Smart meter installations, an ongoing initiative to enhance billing accuracy, were also reviewed.
As per the latest reports, LESCO had installed 49,470 out of 223,365 planned three-phase smart meters, PESCO had completed 51,173 out of 152,559, and FESCO had installed 11,276 out of 192,311 meters.
The prime minister underscored the importance of ensuring that all resources are mobilized to meet the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) targets.
Additionally, the meeting touched on consumer service improvements, with all three companies offering various platforms such as call centers, emails, websites, and mobile/web services from NEPRA to resolve complaints.
Notably, the companies reported high complaint resolution rates, with LESCO achieving 99.2%, PESCO 99.9%, and FESCO 99.7%. To further enhance accessibility, the 118 helpline for electricity-related complaints is available for free across all mobile networks.
Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Power Division Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, and senior government officials attended the meeting.