World Bank Team Discusses Smart Meters with Pakistani Officials
In a recent meeting in Islamabad, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari urged the World Bank for financial support to install Smart Meters at distribution-level transformers. This move aims to enhance transparency and address unfair load management issues arising from losses at the micro level. The meeting, which took place on Friday, involved discussions with the World Bank Vice President for South Asian Region, Martin Raiser, and a delegation that included Federal Minister for Petroleum Division Dr. Musaddiq Malik.
Importance of Smart Meters at Distribution Level Transformers
Minister Leghari emphasized the significance of Smart Meters at the distribution level, highlighting the benefits of their installation at domestic and grid levels. However, he stressed that without implementing Smart Meters at the transformer level, ensuring efficiency and fair load management in specific areas remains a challenge. These meters can also play a crucial role in managing peak load demand effectively.
Invitation for World Bank Investment in Smart Metering
During the meeting, Leghari extended an invitation to the World Bank to invest in Public Private Partnership mode for smart metering projects in LESCO and MEPCO. He mentioned that these distribution companies are next in line for privatization. Additionally, he shared that the recent Bijli Sahulat Package led to a 7% increase in power consumption in the industrial sector in December 2024 compared to the previous year, demonstrating consumer interest in surplus electricity auctions.
Initiatives in the Power Sector
Minister Leghari presented a comprehensive overview of the initiatives undertaken by the Power Division to enhance efficiency, financial discipline, autonomy in decision-making, and reduced power tariffs for domestic and industrial consumers. He also informed the delegation about the upcoming transition of the power sector into a multi-buyer and multi-seller market, with the CPPA no longer acting as the sole buyer. Competitive pricing and affordability will drive power generation and distribution, with Wheeling Charges nearing finalization.
Recent Developments in Providing Electricity Connections
The minister highlighted recent efforts to streamline electricity connections for industrial estates and special economic zones, granting distribution and billing collection rights while eliminating monopolies and employee interventions from Distribution Companies. These initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiency and promote a business-friendly environment in the power sector.
