ISLAMABAD: In a bid to address the problem of overbilling, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) is going to install smart meters to ensure correct meter readings in three months.
Iesco Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malik Muhammad Yousaf Awan has said that the proposal for the project has almost finalised and the project would be completed in the next three years with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ANB).
Awan said services of officials taking meter readings would also no longer be required. He said that smart meters would also allow consumers to manage their electricity usage. New grid stations were constructed at Chakri, Sangjani and Bhara Kahu, with assistance from the ADB, he said. He added that Rs300-400 million is spent every year to repair and replace damaged transformers.
Awan said the Iesco is also launching a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) service shortly to address consumer complaints. Through the system, complaints regarding overbilling, load shedding and other issues would be registered through SMS. He said the service is being launched in Islamabad and Rawalpindi initially and would gradually be extended to all areas served by the company.
He said there was no shortage of electricity meters and around 40000 of 150,000 new meters have been procured. He said the company gives 150,000 new connections every year and added that over the last seven months 44,681 new connections were given.
Regarding power load-shedding, the CEO said that 6 hours of electricity load- shedding was being carried out in urban areas while there is 8 hours of load shedding in rural areas. He said there is no load shedding in industrial area according to the directives of the government.
