The workshop was held in Tashkent by Uzbekenergo in cooperation with the World Bank. The workshop is aiming to acknowledge the manufacturers and services providers with the nationwide Advanced Electricity Metering Program in Uzbekistan, as well as to learn more about international experience.

The Program’s objective is to reduce commercial losses, and better management of the country’s energy balance. These will be achieved by improving metering and billing infrastructure, and the commercial management systems.

The manufacturers of the intellectual meters and providers of the commercial management systems will have an access to the latest information about the Program, architecture of particular projects funded by development banks, their procurement strategy, as well as share their own experience in building smart metering systems.

All these measures will help to establish transparent and competitive environment during forthcoming bidding processes. The total cost of the program is more than US$800 million. The government of Uzbekistan and Uzbekenergo has already received the co-financing from the Asian Development Bank (US$150 million) for AEM system in Samarkand, Bukhara and Jizakh oblasts; and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (US$ 180 million) for AEM Project development in the capital city, and Tashkent and Syrdarya oblasts. The preparation of the project for Karakalpakstan, Navoiy, Khorazm, and Surkhandarya provinces is going on with the Islamic Development Bank.

The project financed by the IBRD will increase the collection rates of the power distribution companies, leading to the improvements of their financial viability and operational efficiencies. As a result of the project, around 1.2 million advanced meters and associated communication systems will replace the existing outdated metering; an Energy Data Management/Billing/Customer Relationship Management/Archive system will be installed for the Tashkent and Syrdarya Regions, and the centralized Energy Data Management will be installed in Tashkent city; and the capacities of the three regional distribution companies in re-engineering their procedures in meter reading, billing and collection and improving management efficiency will be enhanced.

It will also encourage electricity consumers to use electricity more efficiently by providing transparent and fair pricing signals, and information on electricity consumption. Public awareness program would be aiming at educating population on the use of energy, explaining social assistance measures for poor households, covering issues related to meters, and promoting energy saving. This will eventually reduce energy waste in the mid to long-term, which will also reduce carbon emission and benefit the environment.

As reported earlier, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a US$180 million loan to the Republic of Uzbekistan for Advanced Electricity Metering Project on 27 March 2012.