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Arab News
07-08-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan says over one million consumers using self meter reading mobile app
ISLAMABAD: Over one million electricity consumers are actively using a mobile app launched by the government in June that allows people to record and submit their power meter readings themselves for billing, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Thursday. Pakistan's government launched the Power Smart App under the government's 'Apna Meter, Apni Reading' (Your Meter, Your Reading) slogan on June 29. The initiative allows consumers to take pictures of the readings of their power meters on a specified date, upload the image to the app, and based on the picture, their monthly bill will be generated. The initiative was taken by the government to address customers' concerns, who have frequently accused meter readers of overbilling them or taking incorrect readings. 'The uptake of this digital tool has been remarkable, with more than one million electricity consumers nationwide actively using the Power Smart app,' the APP said. 'This significant adoption demonstrates increasing public trust in digital governance and a strengthened relationship between consumers and utility services.' As per the energy ministry's spokesperson, Pakistan's electricity sector reported losses of Rs591 billion [$2.07 billion] in June 2024. However, due to several reforms, including the self meter reading initiative, these losses have been cut by Rs191 billion [$668.5 million] within the year. Pakistan's Power Division said in June that the self meter reading method will prove beneficial for consumers eligible for power subsidies. 'For example, a consumer using up to 200 units typically receives a bill of around Rs2,330 but crossing just one additional unit results in the loss of subsidy, raising the bill to around Rs8,104,' the Power Division had said. 'Through this app, it will be ensured that eligible consumers can timely submit readings and continue to benefit from subsidies.' Pakistan has aggressively pursued reforms in its energy sector recently, which has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses. These problems have led to blackouts and high electricity costs throughout the country, especially during the summers when demand peaks.
Business Recorder
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FESCO launches ‘Apna Meter, Apna Reading' programme
FAISALBAD: On the special directives of the Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari and Chief Executive Officer FESCO Engr. Muhammad Aamer, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) has launched the 'Apna Meter, Apna Reading' program which is a practical embodiment of the Prime Minister of Pakistan's vision of 'Digital Pakistan', through which transparency, efficiency and accountability are being ensured. In this connection, FESCO spokesman said that "Apna Meter, Apna Reading" is an innovative and revolutionary initiative of the Government of Pakistan. The main objective of this program is to empower electricity consumers to submit their own meter readings. Under this initiative, consumers can submit their own electricity readings through the mobile application "Power Smart App", which will not only increase transparency but also be helpful to eliminate the overbilling, he added. He said that the Power Smart Mobile Application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS). After registering on the app by entering their consumer ID and other required information, users can use its feature 'Apna Meter Apni Reading' to take a picture of their electricity meter on a specified date and upload it through the app. The image of the customer's meter reading submitted through this app will be given priority over the image of the reading taken in the same billing cycle by the concerned Distribution Company. While the reading sent by the consumers will be considered as final and on the basis of this reading uploaded by the consumers, his monthly electricity bill will be prepared and 'Apna Meter Apni Reading' will also be written on the bill along with a picture. The practical implementation of "Apna Meter Apni Reading" is also helping to reduce overbilling, reading errors, and delay in billing. He further added that this app is very useful for users who are in the protected category, as uploading a photo on their due date of reading will prevent them from being included in the non-protected category. The FESCO administration has appealed to electricity consumers to keep a proper distance from the meter and electricity wires while taking pictures of the meter readings for uploading on app and keep safety rules in mind because safety of consumers is FESCO's top priority. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
29-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan launches mobile app allowing power consumers to submit meter readings
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated a mobile application that allows power consumers in Pakistan to record and submit their meter readings themselves, with the government saying the initiative will introduce more transparency in the electricity system and reduce overbilling. Electricity bills are generated in Pakistan every month by readings obtained from power meters installed at homes and businesses. These readings show the number of electricity units consumed during a monthly cycle and are taken by meter readers employed by power companies. Pakistani power consumers have frequently complained of overbilling and incorrect readings taken by meter readers. To include power consumers in the process and to bring more transparency to the electricity system, the Power Division said it had launched the Power Smart App under the government's 'Apna Meter, Apni Reading' (Your Meter, Your Reading) slogan. 'And this app, this technology, this reform, is a revolutionary technological reform whose benefit will reach every consumer in every home,' Sharif told participants at the app's launching ceremony. He urged Energy Minister Sardar Awais Leghari and his ministry to strictly monitor the use of the app to ensure power consumers avail its benefits. 'I would want you to introduce this app to every home from Karachi to Peshawar,' the prime minister told the energy minister. In a press release, the Power Division said consumers can use the app by taking a picture of their meter on a specified date and uploading the image to the app. Based on the picture, their monthly bill will be generated Highlighting the features of the app, the Power Division said If both the consumer and the meter reader upload the readings, the lower reading will be used to generate the bill. It further said that if the consumer submits a reading on a designated day, any reading taken by the meter reader after that date will not be accepted. The Power Division pointed out that this method will prove beneficial for consumers eligible for power subsidies. 'For example, a consumer using up to 200 units typically receives a bill of around Rs2,330 but crossing just one additional unit results in the loss of subsidy, raising the bill to around Rs8,104,' the Power Division said. 'Through this app, it will be ensured that eligible consumers can timely submit readings and continue to benefit from subsidies.' Pakistan has aggressively pursued reforms in its energy sector recently, which has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses. These problems have led to blackouts and high electricity costs throughout the country, especially during the summers when demand peaks.
