The objective of the corporation in replacing the existing reading mechanism with smart meter is to save the residents from paying inflated bills
Amid the news that smart reading meter would bring transparency in billing system, it has come to light that the new system is allegedly defective, resulting in higher electricity bill.
It came at a time when power distribution corporation, especially PVVNL, has only done a pilot project of the new meter at Sunworld Developer, a high rise in Sector 107 Noida, on the consent of the residents. They are yet to install smart meter in all the highrises.
The corporation has also sought permission from residents of Supertech Capetown, a highrise in Sector 74 Noida, for the same.
Though the objective of the corporation in replacing the existing reading mechanism with smart meter is to save the residents from paying inflated bills to deemed franchises, who are the developer of the housing society, however, the question arises that will the new meter provide relief to the residents from paying higher electricity bill or not.
Four-time MLA, Laxmikant Bajpai, wrote to Shrikant Sharma, Minister of Energy, government of Uttra Pradesh seeking his intervention before the new system is fully implemented in the Meerut Division under which Noida and Greater Noida falls.
Bajpai said that the experiment should be carried out in a way which would determine the capability of either meter, prepaid or smart, in reducing the electricity bill. He said, “Residents of the society complained that the cost of electricity consumption of the same families or houses was multiplied by three times shortly after the officials installed smart meter at their places. They said that they were more satisfied with the prepaid meter than smart meter. Therefore, the corporation should look into this before going ahead with the new system.”
He suggested that it would be appropriate to conduct accuracy as well as comparative study of smart and prepaid meters before installing new system at individual homes.
