Opposition RJD and other parties including MP Pappu Yadav are opposing the installation of smart meters in Bihar. The government has issued an order to install smart meters on war footing. All government offices have also been given a deadline of November 30 to install smart meters. The Energy Secretary has directed action against three metering agencies for delay and negligence in meeting the target within the stipulated time limit. In which notices have been given to blacklisted companies like High Print, NCC, Adani Power and EESL.
Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary, Department of Power, Bihar and CMD, BSPHCL reviewed the progress of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISP) operating in South and North Bihar. The meeting gave several important instructions to improve power supply and consumer services. Senior officials of South and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited were present in the meeting. Representatives of metering agency High Print, NCC, Adani Power, Secure Meters Limited, EESL and agencies operating in South Bihar, IntelliSmart and Genus Power were also present. The CMD directed the managing directors to blacklist High Print, NCC, Adani Power and EESL for not achieving the target within the stipulated time frame.
Notification to install smart prepaid meters by 30th November
During the review meeting of the Power Department, Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena gave a clear instruction that it is mandatory to install smart prepaid meters in all government buildings in the state by November 30. If smart meters are not installed in any government building within the stipulated time, the electricity connections of the respective buildings will be cut off. After the instructions, Energy Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal directed all metering agencies to install smart meters in their areas. He also asked to install check meters in government buildings so that there is no doubt in the minds of customers.
According to information, on September 5, 2024, CMD Pankaj Kumar Pal reviewed all metering agencies. In this meeting, CMD instructed everyone to increase IEC (Inform, Educate, Communicate) activities.
There is a need to increase awareness among people
Pankaj Kumar Pal clearly told all the agencies involved in AMISP that effective implementation of smart prepaid metering system needs to be done at division, block, panchayat level. He also asked everyone to speed up DT and feeder metering and consumer tagging. Pankaj Kumar Pal emphasized that IEC activities have to be carried out on a large scale to increase awareness of smart prepaid metering among consumers. Under this, publicity has to be done to make the general public aware about the benefits of smart meters.
CMD explained its benefits
Pankaj Kumar Pal said that the use of smart prepaid meters will give consumers better control over their electricity consumption and transparency in electricity bills. He said that AMISP has to implement consumer awareness programs quickly so that more consumers can benefit from smart metering.
