Advanced Metering Infrastructure meters help Iesco curb power theft, line losses

Dawn reported that the rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters has helped Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) curb electricity theft, line losses and billing problems, while speeding up consumer complaint resolution. More than 1.2 million AMI meters now serve domestic, commercial and industrial users across the Rawalpindi City Circle, Rawalpindi Cantonment Circle and Taxila Division. From a central control room, the utility can monitor meters, transformers and MV feeders in those areas.

AMI Project Director Mohsin Raza Gillani told Dawn that continuous monitoring has reduced meter-tampering cases to only a few among the installed meters. The system generates tampering and event alerts that field teams then verify. The project, funded by the Asian Development Bank with $160 million, is 99 percent complete physically, and its head end system is fully operational.

Iesco spokesman Raja Asim said line losses in the region have dropped to 7.6pc, which is the lowest nationwide, and credited the metering system. All industrial units in the region have been moved to AMI, and domestic and commercial users are set to follow soon. Consumers can also check their hourly electricity use through the system.