IESCO solar power consumers have been left alarmed after receiving electricity bills directing them to replace their existing green meters with Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) meters within three months, Dawn reported.
According to Dawn, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has instructed users that the replacement is mandatory to continue net metering, a system that allows consumers to sell surplus electricity generated from solar panels back to the national grid.
The directive has triggered widespread concern among consumers, many of whom have invested up to Rs. 1 million or more in solar systems. They are now being asked to pay Rs. 52,000 for each new AMR meter, while their previously purchased green meters will be taken back by IESCO.
Several affected consumers have approached the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal, requesting government intervention to stop IESCO from forcing them to buy new meters at their own expense.
Replacement Decision Temporarily Halted
An IESCO official told Dawn that although the replacement plan was “principally decided,” its implementation has been temporarily suspended. The official added that a final policy addressing consumer concerns would be announced soon.
He explained that the green meter, a bi-directional smart meter, records both the electricity consumed from the grid and the surplus energy sent back through solar panels.
Every three months, the net balance is calculated, and the amount is either debited or credited to the consumer’s account.
However, confusion and frustration have spread among users after the sudden instructions appeared on their bills.
Consumers Seek Clarity
An IESCO official, quoted by Dawn, said, “A large number of solar consumers are visiting our offices after seeing these instructions. We don’t yet have a clear policy. What I can tell you is that demand notices will be issued, and consumers will have to pay Rs. 52,000 for the new meter. We don’t know if the charges will be adjustable in future bills. Consumers should wait for the final policy.”
Another IESCO officer at the Monitoring and Complaint Cell confirmed that while some Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) had already issued demand notices, the process had now been paused after strong public backlash.
He told Dawn that several users claimed their current meters were still under warranty, questioning why they should bear additional costs. “Many people have also approached the PM Portal, and their complaints have been forwarded to Iesco. Therefore, it has been decided to draft a clear policy before proceeding,” the official said.
Countrywide Implementation Planned
IESCO spokesperson, in a statement to Dawn, clarified that the decision to replace green meters with AMR meters was not exclusive to IESCO but part of a nationwide plan.
He assured that the upcoming policy would consider consumer concerns, adding that IESCO was committed to providing maximum relief while ensuring system efficiency.
Via: Dawn
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this is first step to making life difficult for solar user. soon exported electricity will be Rs11 per unit while import from iesco will be 60 to 70 per unit
I wonder why people dont get lifepo4 batteries now? getting rid of the grid is the only permanant solution.
Government will take action on that as well. Sun rises for government not for public. In fact employees misguide.
Why mandatory and why target solar users ?
Meaning they have an agenda against solar users.
This govt is becoming a dictatorship
Every one in this country becoming Zalim and haramkhir , more power more zalim .
Organization can do anything they like no justice . Police and Rangers is not helping poor nation . The most powerful Edara is Army and poor nation is just looking at them helplessly .
All policies based on harasment. No right to get back payments of previous meters. Our departments implement policies without home work and need to change again and again. Because suffer public only.
The people framing such policies need to be publicly hanged and whipped before that. They are all ‘Muft Khoras’ who have never paid a single cent in electricity bill because they get electricity free of cost. I am not still a solar user but I am certainly fed up with the frequent load shedding and such attitude towards solar users.
It’s obvious that only the rich can afford solar panels. The poor people of Pakistan have still been rendered not only homeless, but without any promised electricity rates coming down. The whole nation has been taken for a ride. It’s about time that political governments sat up, and decided to bring about a relief for the people of Pakistan. They need to work like other political governments in countries like Malaysia and Turkey to bring relief to the poor people of their country and develop the country on international lines with the latest technological advancements in place. It’s about time they stopped fooling all the people of the country with their talks but actually start showing action which is good for the people of Pakistan. History will otherwise, record them as the worst rulers that Pakistan ever had.
There should be a solution like Nepal Sri Lanka and Bangladesh If everyone thinks like this, something good can happen.