The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has decided to launch a large-scale smart meter installation project to tackle electricity theft and reduce billions of rupees in financial losses caused by high line losses.

According to sources, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has directed LESCO to install more than 100,000 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart meters during the current year. The meters will primarily be installed on feeders where electricity theft and line losses are the highest.

The project carries an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion and includes the installation of both single-phase and three-phase smart meters. Officials have also been instructed to complete the targets set by NEPRA within the current year.

Under the plan, around 94,800 single-phase smart meters will be installed in areas with high line losses, while 5,400 three-phase smart meters will be deployed in locations where electricity theft is more common.

Officials believe the use of AMI smart meters will improve the monitoring of electricity consumption, help detect power theft in real time and reduce technical as well as commercial losses across the distribution network.

The initiative is also expected to increase transparency in electricity billing and strengthen the overall power distribution system by providing more accurate and timely consumption data.

Power sector experts say smart metering is an important step towards modernising Pakistan's electricity network and improving revenue collection. If successfully implemented, the project could help LESCO significantly reduce losses while ensuring a more reliable and efficient electricity supply for consumers.