Punjab: Smart electricity meter project’s pace slows down

Punjab: The installation of smart meters across the state has almost come to a halt, especially in theft-prone areas, as it is turning out to be a white elephant for the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The total cost of the project, including financing, will be over Rs 11,000 crore, with a subsidy of only Rs 790 crore, which will ultimately put the burden on consumers who will have to pay the price. According to information gathered by The Tribune, PSPCL has installed 11.40 lakh smart meters, including 9.56 lakh single-phase and 1.82 lakh three-phase meters. PSPCL engineers claim that 15 per cent of these are not working due to various reasons, which means either the consumer is given an average bill or no billing is done by any third party. According to the recently issued tariff order, the cost of installing 12 lakh smart meters is to be divided among 85 lakh consumers. PSPCL will lose the meters currently installed worth Rs 680 crore. “This is likely to increase the cost of electricity for the people of Punjab, which needs to be carefully considered,” said a senior PSPCL engineer. Senior officials said smart meters will eliminate the need for taking manual readings, ensure delivery of accurate bills and allow prepayment customers to track their usage and get top-up credit without leaving home. However, all this does not justify the huge difference in cost. “The project of installing smart meters should have been taken up as a pilot project in one city.

It is necessary that the cost-benefit analysis and other important aspects of the project are thoroughly discussed with all concerned stakeholders before going ahead with such a significant investment,” said VK Gupta, spokesperson of the All India Power Engineers Federation. He said, “The high cost is likely to increase the cost of electricity for the people of Punjab, which needs careful consideration. In Punjab, where 90 per cent of domestic consumers do not get any electricity bill, the smart meter project hardly serves any purpose.” Another PSPCL official associated with finance said no payment will be made for the smart meters, only additional debt of crores of rupees will be added in installments. “In case of any damage to the meter, theft or power theft, the responsibility will be of PSPCL. The consumer will have to pay Rs 8,500 instead of Rs 1,500 for a damaged meter,” the official said. PSEB Engineers Association says, “Smart meter technology has never been opposed, but its implementation is not smooth.” However, a senior PSPCL official said, “Leave aside the cost part, it is the technology of the future. We need to find out the cost.”