The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) plans to install 65,000 smart meters across its service areas. The installation is part of the Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project (EDEIP).
According to project documents, the meters will use Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology. The initiative will focus on customers using connections between 5kW and 20kW.
The smart meters will be installed in PESCO’s Peshawar and Khyber circles. The project aims to modernize the electricity distribution system in these areas.
Under the revised PC-I, Rs. 1.82 billion has been allocated for the AMI meters. The allocation includes a foreign cost of $6.5 million.
The project is also focused on improving the existing electricity distribution network. It includes the installation of aerial bundled cable (ABC) across 60 feeders.
The planned ABC network will cover around 1,298 kilometers. The work will be carried out across the Peshawar and Khyber circles.
The revised cost for this component is Rs. 3.415 billion. This includes Rs. 683.043 million in local costs and Rs. 2.732 billion in foreign costs.
The project also includes funding for technical assistance. Around Rs. 2.67 billion has been allocated for this purpose.
Technical assistance will cover several areas related to distribution improvements. These include metering and testing equipment and transformer workshops.
The funding will also support protection and testing facilities. Personal protective equipment, information technology and vehicles are also included.
PESCO will also receive support for training and capacity building. The project has allocated Rs. 126 million for these activities.
Another Rs. 560 million has been reserved for implementation support. These measures are expected to strengthen the project’s execution and technical capabilities.
The overall cost of the EDEIP has also been revised. The project now has a total estimated cost of Rs. 30.256 billion.
The total amount is equivalent to around $108.056 million. It includes Rs. 8.988 billion in local costs and Rs. 21.268 billion in foreign costs.
The project is being supported through foreign financing. Its broader objective is to improve the performance of the electricity distribution network.
The planned smart meters could help modernize electricity metering and monitoring. The upgraded cables are also expected to support a more efficient distribution system.
The combination of smart meters, improved cabling and technical support forms a major part of the project. PESCO is expected to use these upgrades to strengthen its distribution infrastructure.
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The EDEIP therefore represents a significant investment in the electricity network. Its implementation will focus on infrastructure upgrades in the Peshawar and Khyber circles.
