LAHORE - Energy security is as vital as food and territorial security of the country. We will have to gird up our loins and work selflessly to ensure the success of the energy reforms initiated by the Government to salvage the country out of the present energy crisis. This was stated by Rasul Khan Mahsud Managing Director PEPCO while addressing his maiden conference with the CEOs of DISCOs and senior officials of PEPCO at the Wapda House on Saturday. Mahsud, in his address to the CEOs, termed the present energy situation in the country as grave and called for redoubling of efforts by improvement in the efficiency, better delivery system and services to our customers. Dilating on the grave energy situation in the country, Mahsud said we have no choice but to perform. Failure is not an option. The country comes first, we have to work save the energy sector, he said. Mahsud expressed confidence that the CEOs who were experienced energy professional would now rise to the occasion and make their contribution to bring the country out of the present energy crisis. Mahsud said that he has an open mind and is prepared to give due consideration to any initiative, proposal or suggestion for improving the energy situation in the country. The MD said that he is fully aware of the financial, administrative and technical requirements of the DISCOs and assured them all out support. He urged the CEOs that they will have to accelerate their efforts but cautioned that their directions should not be hasty. The CEO LESCO Saleem Akhtar briefed the conference on the Automatic Meter Reading (smart metering) pilot project. He said that these meters were installed in Shadbagh and Shadman areas on trial basis. The cost of the project is Rs 6.2 million. The unique feature of AMR is that it has a firefly installed in it. This facilitates two way communication. If anyone tinkers with the meter, bypasses it or the data is lost because of the damage to the meter the same is not only communicated in real time but also saved in adjacent meter installed within the area. The CE informed the conference that line losses showed a marked decline from 11 percent to 2.9 percent where smart meters were installed. After an intense debate over the pros and cons of the smart meters the MD constituted a committee to submit a report about its technical and financial feasibility within one week. The next issue that was discussed at the conference was the relentless complaint of overbilling by customers from all over the country. The Managing Director said that at a time when tariff are high we cannot burden our valued customers by overbilling, this he said will not be tolerated and stringent actions will be taken against those found involved in over-billing. The MD also expressed concern over complaints of theft of electricity and line losses, which were affecting the financial health of the energy sector.