Preparationshave started in Punjab for installation of smart meters. Power Com has alreadypurchased 96 thousand three-phase meters and all set to purchase 3.5 lacSingle-phase meters in next couple of months or so. There have been rumoursdoing rounds that these meters have to be recharged to get electricity justlike pre-paid mobiles and the poll- promise of 300 free units of Electricity byour incumbent Government will not be fulfilled and so on and so forth.
Let usunderstand the opinion of experts in this respect. We will explain all in sixsimple questions and hope many doubts will be cleared from them pertaining tofree 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 INR1250 Crores in Punjab has necessitated the use of smart meters. Also thecentral government is pressing Punjab to install smart meters to continuegetting Power Reform funds worth crores. During last 10 years Punjab got aroundINR 2000 crores As Power Development and Reform funds. If stopped, it will be ahuge loss for Punjab.
2. Are all smart meters Pre-paid?
Not necessarily. But smart meters can beconverted into pre-paid anytime. You can recharge these meters with big orsmall amounts as per your requirements like we do with pre-paid mobiles. Youwill get a message before expiry of your plan to facilitate uninterrupted powersupply. The recharge card you will purchase will carry a number and when youpunch that number on Power com website, your meter will be recharged ensuring uninterruptedsupply. Bills would be paid through App as we are paying now. You will also beable to have an on-line meter reading.
3. Will I be charged for installationof these smart meters?
No. Consumer will not be charged although these meters are veryexpensive. Government will bear all the costs of changing the meters.
4. Will I get 300 units free as per thepromise of Government?
Yes. Government can give a command regarding this to the software ofsmart meters.
5. Will the Power Theft stop aftersmart meter installation?
Yes. Smart meters have poly-carbon bodies which are transparent. Thesewill be protected by iron boxes. Whenever anyone tampers with the meter ormeter stops, Power Com server will be immediately informed. The fact that thesemeters will have poly-carbon bodies will render use of magnet, which is acommon tool of power theft, ineffective.
6. How much time will it take toinstall these smart meters?
Central Government had given 3 months to install 85 thousand meters andalmost 25% of the work is complete by now. Total consumers in Punjab are around75 lacs and The Government will need nearly INR 4000 Crores to change theirmeters. So the work will be done in a phased manner as Government is in noposition to spend this much immediately.
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All in all there will be no effect on AAP promise of 300 units free withsmart meters.