In a major shift aimed at resolving persistent supply and certification issues, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has decided to stop issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the purchase of smart meters from the open market.
Instead, all large commercial and industrial consumers are now required to obtain smart meters directly through LESCO via demand notices.
According to a notification from LESCO’s Material Management Department, the utility will no longer entertain market-bought Time-of-Use (TOU) smart meters, and installations will only proceed once demand notices are issued and fulfilled using meters from LESCO’s own stock.
This policy change follows numerous complaints from consumers who were issued NOCs but faced challenges acquiring certified meters due to unavailability and a lack of inspection certificates among approved vendors.
The policy revision also aligns with LESCO’s earlier decision, implemented in April, to halt the installation of conventional TOU meters for LT-type (low tension) high-load commercial and industrial connections.
Initially, the issuance of NOCs was intended to offer consumers flexibility, but persistent shortages and regulatory issues prompted the company to centralize meter provisioning to ensure quality and streamline installations.
