No balance no electricity: Govt introduces new prepaid electricity system

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has made a major decision to introduce nationwide prepaid metering into the electricity sector as part of a major transformation of how millions of consumers use and pay for electricity.

According to reports in the local media, the new system will require consumers to pay for electricity through a rechargeable card. Users top up a card balance and, only then, are able to consume electricity according to their needs and budget.

The moment a consumer’s card balance runs out, the electricity supply will automatically cut off. Under the new system, there will be no meter readers, no monthly bills, and no late fees. One has to just recharge to get electricity.

Government officials describe the project as one that will save consumers from the headache of paying monthly bills, giving them the power to regulate their electricity use directly through topping up their balance whenever necessary.

The federal government, in this regard, wrote a letter to the chiefs of all the power companies and sought proposals from them urgently. The power companies would present their proposals regarding the prepaid metering project before the end of this month.