The Anjangaon Bari branch office under Badnera Sub-division of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has become the first branch office in Amravati Circle to achieve 100 percent smart meter coverage across all categories of electricity consumers. The final smart meter under the branch’s jurisdiction was installed at the residence of Bhanudas Sairise, a consumer in Nirasana village by Dilip Dodke, Chief Engineer. Addressing the gathering, Dilip Dodke said that smart meters, like smartphones and smart televisions, are the need of the present era as they offer consumers greater transparency and accuracy in electricity services. He also assured that complaints related to smart meters would be resolved on priority.

 

It may be mentioned here that the Anjangaon Bari branch covers 18 villages under 10 gram panchayats and serves a total of 4,440 electricity consumers. It includes 4,190 domestic consumers, 101 commercial consumers, 75 industrial consumers, 60 public service connections and 14 streetlight connections. All consumers in the branch's jurisdiction have now been equipped with Time-of-Day (ToD) smart meters. Pradeep Andhare, Executive Engineer, explained the functioning and benefits of smart meters, stating that their installation has led to a significant reduction in consumer complaints while improving branch's billing efficiency from 78 pc to 96 pc. Subhash Khandar, Utkhed, Akshay Meshram, Pardi Sarpanch and Vishal Meshram, Sarpanch of Kirsana-Virsana shared their experiences and expressed support for the smart meter initiative.The MSEDCL also felicitated sarpanchs from villages under the Anjangaon Bari branch for extending cooperation during the smart meter installation campaign and helping create awareness among consumers.