Preparations
have started in Punjab for installation of smart meters. Power Com has already
purchased 96 thousand three-phase meters and all set to purchase 3.5 lac
Single-phase meters in next couple of months or so. There have been rumours
doing rounds that these meters have to be recharged to get electricity just
like pre-paid mobiles and the poll- promise of 300 free units of Electricity by
our incumbent Government will not be fulfilled and so on and so forth.
Let us
understand the opinion of experts in this respect. We will explain all in six
simple questions and hope many doubts will be cleared from them pertaining to
free electricity promise and working of smart meters:
1. Why Smart Meters
The fact that there is an electricity theft to the tune of more than INR
1250 Crores in Punjab has necessitated the use of smart meters. Also the
central government is pressing Punjab to install smart meters to continue
getting Power Reform funds worth crores. During last 10 years Punjab got around
INR 2000 crores As Power Development and Reform funds. If stopped, it will be a
huge loss for Punjab.
2. Are all smart meters Pre-paid?
Not necessarily. But smart meters can be
converted into pre-paid anytime. You can recharge these meters with big or
small amounts as per your requirements like we do with pre-paid mobiles. You
will get a message before expiry of your plan to facilitate uninterrupted power
supply. The recharge card you will purchase will carry a number and when you
punch that number on Power com website, your meter will be recharged ensuring uninterrupted
supply. Bills would be paid through App as we are paying now. You will also be
able to have an on-line meter reading.
3. Will I be charged for installation
of these smart meters?
No. Consumer will not be charged although these meters are very
expensive. Government will bear all the costs of changing the meters.
4. Will I get 300 units free as per the
promise of Government?
Yes. Government can give a command regarding this to the software of
smart meters.
5. Will the Power Theft stop after
smart meter installation?
Yes. Smart meters have poly-carbon bodies which are transparent. These
will be protected by iron boxes. Whenever anyone tampers with the meter or
meter stops, Power Com server will be immediately informed. The fact that these
meters will have poly-carbon bodies will render use of magnet, which is a
common tool of power theft, ineffective.
6. How much time will it take to
install these smart meters?
Central Government had given 3 months to install 85 thousand meters and
almost 25% of the work is complete by now. Total consumers in Punjab are around
75 lacs and The Government will need nearly INR 4000 Crores to change their
meters. So the work will be done in a phased manner as Government is in no
position to spend this much immediately.
Also Read:
11 IAS officers transferred in Punjab: Know the new places of posting of these officersAll in all there will be no effect on AAP promise of 300 units free with
smart meters.