The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is gearing up to introduce ‘smart prepaid electricity meters’ after the Lok Sabha (LS) poll results to avoid any negative reactions from consumers. Not a single meter has been installed yet. MSEDCL cites ongoing work for the installation of Gateways, a communication device at electric poles, as the reason. The state-run distribution company anticipates commencing the process after June 4. A staggering 6,84,00,000 electricity consumers in Maharashtra, including 57,95,865 in Vidarbha alone, are set to benefit from the introduction of the smart meters. In Nagpur circle, approximately 9,45,623 consumers will have smart meters installed. Sources have hinted at the delay in meter installation due to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, as uncertainties linger over consumer reactions during this period. These smart meters promise various conveniences, including online bill recharge akin to mobile phones, claimed sources.

 

 

 

The Central Government has allocated a hefty sum of Rs 15,000 crore for this initiative. The MSEDCL has initiated the tender process for the appointment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) service providers. In the initial phase, slated for the current year, smart and prepaid meters will be installed for customers experiencing over 15 per cent technical and commercial losses. In the second phase, smart meters will be installed in areas where power losses are less than 15 per cent.

 

This deployment of smart meters falls under the Smart Meter National Programme spanning the entire country. Officials have stressed that such meters are already in the operation in foreign countries. Moreover, such meters will be linked to a mobile application which will enable the consumers to monitor their power consumption online. This measure is expected to reduce instances of pending power bills, as power supply will be automatically cut off once the recharged amount gets consumed. The officials anticipate a surge in revenue and a decline in power theft cases with the introduction of these smart meters.

A high-tech data communication center for the smart meters is being installed at the Gandhibagh Zone office of MSEDCL. According to sources, the data center will play a role in communication between the meters and the main server. The installation of the center was delayed for several month which resulted into delaying the entire process.