Ali-Asghar Rajabi, the company’s energy and carbon manager, said the plan reflects a shift in Iran’s energy policy from a traditional model focused mainly on fuel distribution toward a more data-driven system designed to manage consumption more efficiently.

The initiative centers on so-called “energy operators,” private-sector firms that would analyze consumer behavior, identify waste and carry out measures to lower energy use. Officials say the approach is intended to turn energy savings into economic value while helping stabilize the country’s gas network.

Iran has faced persistent energy shortages in recent years, especially during periods of high demand, exposing the limits of older approaches based largely on supply and blanket conservation appeals. Under the new model, energy operators would use large-scale consumption data to target homes and buildings where savings can be achieved more effectively.

Rajabi said the companies would implement measures such as insulation, sealing and double-glazed windows, then compare consumption against a pre-established baseline. If usage falls below that level, the resulting savings would form the basis for financial compensation.

The saved gas could then be sold in the form of “saving certificates” on the energy exchange, creating a market incentive for efficiency investments. Officials say the system could give private investors a clearer return while also reducing pressure on national energy infrastructure.

Rajabi cited one example in which household gas use fell from 14 cubic meters to 4 cubic meters after optimization measures were introduced, illustrating the scale of potential savings.

He said the concept follows international models in which specialized operators play a larger role in energy management. In Britain, for example, about 35% of gas distribution is handled by operators, he said, suggesting Iran is seeking to adapt a similar framework to local conditions.

The proposal also signals an evolving role for the Oil Ministry and affiliated state companies. Rather than serving only as distributors of fuel, they would increasingly act as facilitators of smarter consumption and efficiency-based market mechanisms.

The broader goal, Rajabi said, is not only to curb waste but also to transform reduced consumption into a tradable asset — an approach officials hope will help ease Iran’s energy deficit and modernize how the country manages demand.