By The federal government will put a framework in place to continue the smart metering project after power distribution companies (DISCOs) are privatised, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema said on Tuesday.
Chairing a meeting on DISCOs, Cheema said private investors will be able to carry the project forward under the framework, which will also protect the interests of consumers, investors and the government.
The meeting reviewed funding arrangements for the development programmes of DISCOs and the smart metering system. It also considered how to finance the installation of smart meters on the transformers of all DISCOs.
Cheema said progress had been made in arranging funds for smart metering. He said the system would help curb electricity theft and overbilling and improve transparency and efficiency in power distribution.
On development programmes, he said talks with multilateral partners will continue until privatisation is complete. When a DISCO is privatised, its programmes will be transferred to the private investor under agreed arrangements.
The minister said privatised DISCOs will remain subject to the rules and regulations of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). He said privatisation is not intended to pass the companies’ costs or unnecessary financial burden on to consumers, and that the government will protect consumer interests during the process.
Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation and senior officials of the relevant ministries attended the meeting.
https://www.techjuice.pk/govt-to-continue-smart-metering-project-after-disco-privatisation/
