Kuldip Bhatia Ludhiana February 1 The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has set the process in motion for installation of smart energy meters in keeping with the direction of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) and the Union Ministry of Power for conversion of all electricity meters into smart meters by 2022. Touted as state-of-the art equipment the smart meters would help curtail power theft meter tempering and inflated bills claim PSPCL officials. Confirming the development the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Metering Gurdev Singh Nagi said the conversion of meters would be carried out in a phased manner and as far as Ludhiana was concerned orders for procurement of 3-phase meters for consumers with a connected load of more than 7 kW had already been placed with a firm which would also maintain the entire system for a period of five years after supply of meters to be completed within six months. Process of testing single phase smart meters (for load of less than 7 kW and DT (distribution transformer) smart meters was in progress and would take some more time to be finalized Nagi added. Officials claimed that smart meters would cut down human intervention in metering billing and collection process to the minimum level and also help in reducing theft by identifying loss-making pockets. Further the billing data provided by smart meters would be accessible for consumers on a mobile phone app which could be linked to the PSPCL control centre too. Even though no final decision in this regard has been taken but it was indicated that installation of smart meters would commence from government offices which often defaulted in payment of electricity bills. It was also claimed by officials that smart pre-paid or post-paid meters will help to tighten the noose around defaulters especially government departments as the PSPCL would be able to disconnect the supply without visiting the premises of the consumers. Financial burden on consumers? As of now it is not clear whether the cost of smart meters (around Rs 6000) would be borne by the PSPCL or the consumer. Several senior PSPCL officials contacted in this regard said no final decision had been taken to this effect but most probably the meters would be the property of power utility and the consumers would pay rental as before. However Dr SB Pandhi a functionary of the Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat and a member of consultative committee of the PSERC claimed that consumers would have to pay Rs 7000 for installation of smart meters. To be implemented in a phased manner Confirming the development the PSPCL Chief Engineer/Metering Gurdev Singh Nagi said the conversion of meters would be carried out in a phased manner and as far as Ludhiana was concerned orders for procurement of 3-phase meters for consumers with a connected load of more than 7 kW had already been placed with a firm which would also maintain the entire system for a period of five years after supply of meters to be completed within six months.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.