Also according to the new budget bill, regional water companies in Khuzestan Province and the Provincial Water and Power Authority should finance the purchase and installation of the new meters for water wells in the southern region, ISNA reported.
A smart meter is a type of gas and electricity meter that digitally transmits meter readings to the utility company for accurate billing. Smart meters have in-home displays so consumers to can monitor their use.
Smart metering systems means the end to manual meter reading, which is prone to technical error and loss. Smart meters have been used in Europe and the US since 2001, according to Financial Tribune.
Getting rid of human error through the smart meters, gas, electric and water consumption can be recorded more accurately. Users are informed about their daily use and sent notifications in case of excessive consumption.
According to the Energy Ministry, Tavanir has installed over 300,000 smart meters for farming units in several cities since the first phase of the plan in 2014.
The agriculture sector will have priority in the second phase as placing the new system on wells helps the Energy Ministry efficiently monitor water use.
Consumption of water, electricity, natural gas and gasoline in Iran is among the highest in the world and has become a serious source of concern, especially when it comes to water and the crisis that this has created.