RAWALPINDI: The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) Chief Executive Officer Dr Amjad Khan on Thursday said that with AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) technology implementation, not only will electricity theft be eliminated and accurate meter readings be obtained 100pc, but also there will be a significant reduction in overloading on the power distribution system, incidents of transformer and meter burnouts and line losses.

“In the initial phase, the old meters of more than 1.2 million consumers in Rawalpindi city, Rawalpindi cantt Circles, and Taxila division are being replaced with AMI meters free of charge. More than 40,000 old meters of various tariffs have been replaced with AMI meters in Rawalpindi city and Rawalpindi cantt circle so far,” he stated.

In a press conference, he said that Iesco had always taken the lead in introducing modern technology in the power sector. As part of this commitment, the implementation of state-of-the-art AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) technology in the Iesco region has been made possible. Iesco has always focused on providing quality services to consumers, paying special attention to new technology and robust infrastructure to meet the demands of the present era, he said.

He further stated that the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters is a revolutionary and commendable step by the government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) towards reforms in Pakistan’s power sector and providing excellent services to esteemed consumers.

He said that the implementation of this advanced and revolutionary technology was undoubtedly in the best interest of both Iesco and the consumers.

He said that more than 40,000 old meters of various tariffs have been replaced with AMI meters in Rawalpindi city and Rawalpindi cantt circle so far.

Iesco General Manager Development Faisal Sharif said that in case of any fault in electricity, the complaints will be automatically registered in Iesco’s system, enabling the resolution of electricity-related issues in a short time.

Additionally, he said the monitoring of electricity usage and potential bills will now be under the control of the consumers themselves. Project Director AMI Mohsin Raza Gilani briefed media representatives about the aims and objectives of the project.

He said in the initial phase, the old meters of more than 1.2 million consumers in Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantt Circles, and Taxila Division are being replaced with AMI meters free of charge.

Undoubtedly, he said that AMI technology is a revolutionary step towards modern technology and excellent customer services in the power sector, and the role of the media is immensely crucial in delivering the positive benefits of this project to the consumers.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024