The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has issued a new notification that brings bad news for solar energy users. The company has made it mandatory for all solar connections to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters, significantly increasing costs for consumers.
New AMI Meter Cost Doubles
According to LESCO’s notification, only AMI meters will be accepted for new and existing solar connections. The price of an AMI meter has now been fixed at Rs. 70,000, nearly double the earlier cost of Rs. 35,000.
Officials revealed that new solar connection requests have been temporarily suspended under directions from the Ministry of Energy. This move has sparked concern among existing and potential solar users who were already struggling with rising installation costs.
Solar Panel Theft in Punjab Schools Raises Concerns
This development comes at a time when reports have highlighted the theft of solar panels from government schools across Punjab during 2022–23. The Punjab Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently ordered investigations into these incidents after learning that nearly 50 schools in Rajanpur alone lost their solar panels.
During a PAC meeting chaired by Tanzeel Aslam Malik, strong directives were issued to District Police Officers (DPOs) of affected areas. The committee criticized the Education Department for shifting responsibility to District Health Authorities instead of taking accountability.
The PAC has now instructed authorities to prepare a detailed report on:
The number of schools affected.
The total solar panels stolen.
The recovery progress so far.
Impact on Solar Adoption
With rising meter costs and the suspension of new connections, experts warn that LESCO’s new policy could discourage the adoption of renewable energy in Pakistan, particularly at a time when the government is encouraging households and institutions to move toward sustainable energy solutions.
—
✅ Disclaimer: This news is for informational purposes only and is based on reports from credible sources.