Prepaid Power Meter System: DoPN calls for citizen support

Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): The Department of Power, Nagaland (DoPN) today appealed for cooperation and support from the citizens with respect to the installation of pre-paid meters.

In a press release issued by Chief Engineer Moa Aier, the department stated that it had installed about 1,100 pre-paid meters as a pilot scheme in Marwari Patti area Dimapur during 2013-14, which is successfully functioning. The installation was then extended to more areas within Kohima and Dimapur beginning October 2020. As a first phase 10,000 prepaid meters were being installed in Dimapur and another 9,000 in Kohima.

Resistance from citizens

According to the department, despite several consultations and meetings with the public and Colony/Ward authorities, it continues to meet with some resistance from the public.

The resistance, it cited, was particularly in Dimapur, with citizens refusing to allow installation of the prepaid meters within their premises.

Reasons for resistance, as per the department were apprehension of ‘higher bills’, removal of long credit periods as with postpaid meters, unwillingness to pay for their actual consumption, that only a few colonies are being ‘targeted’ etc.

“The issues thus appear to be more of a mindset problem rather than factual,” the department observed.

Addressing key issues

While noting these issues, the department stated that the Power sector in Nagaland cannot continue to bleed financially. In this regard, the department sought to address some key issues to reassure the citizens on the benefits of the system.

Prepaid energy meter will solve inaccurate billings and the resultant complications. The billing will be accurate and commensurate to the actual consumption, the department stated. It will thus enable consumers to know their actual consumption pattern, thereby enabling them to control their usage of electricity in a responsible manner as responsible citizens, it added.

Dismissing apprehensions of ‘higher bills’, the department stated that tariff of prepaid consumers will be lesser than that of postpaid meter consumers. However, if internal wirings are defective and there are leakages, it will show as consumption, it cautioned, and advised consumers to check and rectify their internal wirings, as it may be a fire hazard or cause damage to electrical equipment in the building.

Further, the department said that billing disputes in the case of postpaid meters can be avoided with prepaid meters.

Dynamic pricing

The DoPN also informed that in future, two-part tariff (dynamic pricing) may be introduced, enabling consumers to choose their time of electricity usage, by consuming during low tariff hours and minimizing utilization during high tariff hours, thereby economizing their energy use.

With proper billing and collection, the financial health of the power sector can be improved. This will lead to condition of power supply being improved and becoming more stable as capacity addition and maintenance can be supported, it added.

It also informed that while recharging of prepaid meters are done at certain re-charge locations, online recharging will also be soon introduced.

Regarding the installation of prepaid meters only in certain areas or colonies, the department clarified that in due course of time, as per the policy of the Union Ministry of Power, prepaid meters for all categories of consumers will be installed.

Reduced losses, improved services

The two core objectives of installation of prepaid meters, as per the department, is to reduce losses, thereby improving the financial health of the power sector, and improving services to the consumers. “The objective is not to collect more from the consumers, but to plug leakages, reduce losses and achieve a more accurate measurement of actual consumption,” it assured.

The DoPN stated that it has been incurring huge revenue losses due to various factors. This problem has been plaguing the entire distribution sector in the country, due to which the Government of India has emphasized on the distribution sector reform through the introduction of smart metering system, it stated.

Nagaland cannot remain stagnant forever inhibiting development particularly in the power sector, where infrastructure development and maintenance is directly linked with accurate and timely payment(s) of electricity bill, it reasoned.

In this regard, it highlighted the importance of consumers taking responsibility, being aware of their energy consumption, and its fair payment thereof. “Installation of prepaid meters is a step towards such a transformational change,” it asserted.

While works for installation of prepaid meters have been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, it will be restarted once the situation stabilizes, the department stated, while seeking cooperation from the citizens.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/prepaid-power-meter-system-dopn-calls-for-citizen-support