The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) on Friday announced the large-scale rollout of smart meters across electricity distribution companies (Discos) in the country to improve customer service and operational efficiency.
According to the spokesperson of the Power Division, Zafaryab Khan, smart metering will play key role as the key interface between the customer and the service provider.
In line with the ministry’s declaration of 2025-26 as the Year of Customer Service Improvement, Discos have embarked on a comprehensive digitalisation drive to modernise their infrastructure, said a statement by the Power Division.
Recognising that the pricing of smart meters was a major impediment in this transformation, the Power Division actively intervened to rationalise costs, said the statement, adding that out of nearly 38 million electricity consumers nationwide, around 80 per cent are single-phase users.
The statement pointed out that until recently, the cost of a single-phase smart meter was around Rs20,000.
The price of smart meter has now been reduced to approximately Rs15,000, the Division said. The reduced meter cost will also ease the financial burden on consumers applying for smart meters, making advanced technology more affordable and accessible.