(Digital Ittila) Lahore: Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has implemented a new policy regarding the replacement of faulty and burnt single-phase meters, under which standard static meters will now be installed instead of AMI smart meters. This decision will initially apply to cases where meters are declared faulty based on defective codes.
According to sources, LESCO has started a process prioritizing conventional static meters over smart infrastructure to replace single-phase meters suffering from defects, burning, or technical faults. Previously, modern AMI smart meters were installed in place of these meters, but now this policy has been changed as per the new directive. Officials state that due to the relatively high cost of AMI smart meters, the company has decided that their installation will only be carried out in specific cases, while generally, standard static meters will replace faulty or burnt single-phase meters. This move is being seen as an effort by the institution to reduce costs.
According to the new policy, the replacement of meters holding a defective code will be free of charge for consumers, and no additional charges will be collected in any such case. However, the installation of AMI smart meters remains mandatory for new connections, due to which new consumers will have to pay the smart meter fee. According to sources, consumers have to pay approximately 22,000 rupees to get a single-phase smart meter, whereas a conventional static meter is available at a lower cost. Due to this difference, the company is using the cheaper option for replacing old and faulty meters. While this policy may temporarily reduce financial pressure, installing conventional meters instead of smart meters in the long run could impact the pace of transition toward a modern energy system.
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