ISLAMABAD: Thousands of solar power consumers in Islamabad have expressed outrage after receiving electricity bills instructing them to replace their existing green meters with Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices within three months — or risk losing access to net metering.
Under the new directive, consumers with on-grid solar systems are being asked to purchase AMR meters at a cost of Rs52,000 each, while their previously installed green meters — which they had already paid for — will be taken back by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).
Many consumers, who invested over Rs1 million in their solar setups, have filed complaints on the Prime Minister’s Portal, urging the government to stop Iesco from enforcing the costly replacement.
An Iesco official confirmed that while the decision to replace meters had been made “in principle,” the implementation has been temporarily suspended pending a formal policy announcement.
Green meters are bi-directional smart devices that record both the electricity consumed and the excess energy supplied to the national grid under the net metering system. Consumers are billed or credited based on a three-month energy balance.
Solar user Muhammad Naeem said he was “shocked” to see the directive on his bill. “I installed my system less than a year ago after investing nearly a million rupees. Now I am told to pay Rs52,000 for another meter. Is this mandatory for all?” he questioned.
Another consumer, Maqbood Ahmed, said he was informed that the change was meant to simplify meter reading for Iesco staff, eliminating manual visits.
Iesco officials at the Sector I-10 office confirmed that “a large number” of solar customers had approached them for clarification. “Demand notices will be issued once the policy is finalized,” said an officer identified as Mr Amir, adding that it was unclear whether the charges could later be adjusted against bills.
Meanwhile, an official from Iesco’s Monitoring and Complaint Cell, Mr Imran, confirmed that several demand notices had already been issued but the process was halted after numerous consumers objected, citing warranty coverage of their existing meters.
Iesco spokesperson Raja Asim clarified that the decision to introduce AMR meters was a nationwide directive, not limited to Iesco. “A comprehensive policy will soon be announced keeping in view the concerns of consumers, and every effort will be made to provide relief,” he assured.
Story by Ikram Junaidi
