2023-05-24 11:58:10
Thiruvananthapuram: The government has directed the KSEB to suspend project activities until the government takes a decision on the report of the expert committee that studied the implementation of smart meters. The minister held a discussion with the labor unions today regarding the smart meter. The Minister stated in the meeting that he has given instructions to stop the project.
If the order was given, where is the order, the workers’ representatives asked. However, the minister did not have a clear answer. Later the order was released by the government. The trade unions say that the order was issued following the meeting on the old date. The organizations are also asking how the tender process was completed on the 29th if the order was issued to stop the project on the 24th of last month. Stopping the project following completion of the tender may lead to legal issues.
The Center has warned that if the scheme is not implemented, crores of rupees to be received as subsidy will be given to other states. A group of experts and organizations on the board are of the position that there should be no rush and that step by step is enough. Smart meter has prepaid facility so customers can monitor electricity consumption. Mobile apps can also be used for this.
Board officials can disconnect and restore electricity connections and calculate how much electricity has been used while sitting in the office. Now the board gets paid following a month of using electricity. If the prepaid smart meter comes, the money will be received in advance. Collecting cash deposits from users and 4000 meter readers will be abolished. Time-of-use (TOD) rates will be applicable. The customer can reduce the usage during peak hours.
Central subsidy is 60 per cent of the amount for improving distribution network and 15 per cent (maximum Rs. 900) for installation of smart meters. The organizations are once morest handing over the project to private companies empaneled by the Centre. Most of the smart meters are imported. The central agency CIDAC has developed the technology of manufacturing this and handed it over to six companies. The argument of the organizations in the board is that the smart meter manufactured using this technology is cheap and should be installed in Kerala.
The electricity board should pay the service charge of the smart meter installed at the transformer and lines to the private company. The board has decided to install 37 lakh smart meters in the first phase. The contract signed in some states states that the company installing the smart meter will maintain it for 7 years. For this, users have to pay Rs 80-100 per month to the company.
The cost of taking one’s reading in Kerala is now 8 rupees. Opponents of the project say that even if meter rent is added, this amount does not come. It is also the responsibility of the company to pay the bill according to the meter reading. Organizations on the board are also once morest giving such information to private companies.
English Summary: Government instructs KSEB to put on hold Smart Meter Project
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