The government has decided to introduce a transformer-level electricity system to help control power theft and improve load management. Under the new plan, electricity can be switched off only at transformers where theft is detected instead of shutting down an entire feeder.
Energy Minister Awais Leghari shared details of the plan while speaking to the media at Parliament House. He said the new system would allow authorities to target areas with electricity theft more precisely. This approach could reduce the need to disconnect customers across an entire feeder.
Leghari said the government plans to install an on-and-off control system on around 190,000 transformers. The system would allow electricity supply to be controlled at the transformer level. He described it as a new approach for Pakistan that is already used in different parts of the world.
The energy minister said the regulatory framework for the transformer-level electricity system is expected to be provided by April or May next year. The framework will establish the rules needed for implementing and operating the system. The government aims to use the mechanism to improve electricity management while addressing theft-related losses.
Leghari also discussed changes to the country’s net metering system. He said changes to net metering had encouraged some consumers to install batteries. According to the minister, the changes helped prevent the burden associated with a smaller group of consumers from being transferred to the remaining electricity users.
The minister also spoke about the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure on energy supplies. He said the Petroleum Division has been unable to receive LNG cargoes because of the disruption. He added that the government is using locally produced gas carefully to manage the situation.
The transformer-level electricity system is part of the government’s broader effort to improve power distribution and tackle electricity theft. Instead of cutting electricity across an entire feeder, the proposed system would allow targeted action at individual transformers. Authorities are expected to develop the necessary regulatory framework before moving toward wider implementation.
