MUMBAI : The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on Thursday announced that it is not installing prepaid smart meters at present for common consumers, which includes residential category consumers.
This has come close on the heels of opposition from activists. According to electricity consumer activist Pratap Hogade from Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana, the cost for installing 2.25 crore MSEDCL smart meters in the state would be around Rs 27,000 crore — which comes to Rs 12,000 per meter.
He further said that the Central assistance would bring in just Rs 900 per meter as subsidy and the rest will be borne by consumers who may have to face the burden of tariff hike of at least 30 paise per unit. He further appealed to consumer associations across the state to oppose smart meters.
Said a MSEDCL official : “We are installing smart meters at all the feeders at its substations, at distribution transformers and at all the government offices.”
This has come close on the heels of opposition from activists. According to electricity consumer activist Pratap Hogade from Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana, the cost for installing 2.25 crore MSEDCL smart meters in the state would be around Rs 27,000 crore — which comes to Rs 12,000 per meter.
He further said that the Central assistance would bring in just Rs 900 per meter as subsidy and the rest will be borne by consumers who may have to face the burden of tariff hike of at least 30 paise per unit. He further appealed to consumer associations across the state to oppose smart meters.
Said a MSEDCL official : “We are installing smart meters at all the feeders at its substations, at distribution transformers and at all the government offices.”
