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Jammu 16 Aug (PTI) : Scores of power consumers held a protest here on Wednesday against the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to install prepaid smart meters.
The protesters also blocked the highway for nearly two hours, alleging that smart meter users in Jammu were receiving exorbitant bills amounting to thousands of rupees.
Meanwhile, officials said two smart meters installed by the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) caught fire in Dontallah Bazar and Pir Mitha areas in the city under circumstances raising suspicions.
People hailing from different parts of the city travelled to Vikram Chowk in mini-buses. Their assembly led to the highway being obstructed. During the protest, anti-BJP and anti-administration slogans were chanted, and a demand was made to halt the ongoing meter installation exercise.
”We are demanding the process to install pre-paid smart meters as people, on whose houses smart meters have been implemented, are getting bills in thousands of rupees, said Amit Kapoor, who led the protest.
Police responded by using force to return the protesters to the mini-buses, subsequently restoring traffic flow.
Kapoor asserted that they were against the current approach to installing prepaid smart meters due to the burden of hefty bills on households where these meters had been implemented.
He said that they will not allow the government to install the meters as this is leading to people getting inflated bills.
An official underplayed concerns about potential overcharging, asserting that the notion of overcharging through smart meters was ”unfounded and aimed at misleading the public”. He asserted that the ”precision and automation” of smart meters are advantageous for the public.
”The government has deputed nodal officers for redressal of grievances of the public in this regard. People should have no doubts and reservations over the issue,” he told reporters here.
The official emphasized that the shift to smart meters is aimed at creating a more efficient and financially stable power setup, reducing substantial losses for the power department.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Ramesh Kumar, today chaired a meeting to discuss and address the public concerns surrounding smart Power meters in the division. In an effort to dispel doubts and foster clarity, the meeting was convened with representatives from the civil society, including Industries and Traders associations of the city.
One of the key points of contention discussed in the meeting was the installation of smart meters, with doubts arising about their functionality and reliability. During the session, the doubts were effectively addressed and explanations were provided to allay concerns.
The Div Com, considering the concerns raised by the civil society members, proposed a solution wherein he directed JPDCL to conduct a trial run by installing digital meters in parallel with the smart meters in specific locations to verify the readings for the satisfaction of the public. This trial phase aims to ascertain the accuracy and authenticity of readings produced by the newly installed smart meters.
Another major concern brought to the attention was that the meters are mounted at much height on electricity poles, sometimes clustered together, making it difficult for the consumers to examine the readings .
Responding to the issue, the Div Com instructed the JPDCL to explore possibilities to decrease the height or install meters on walls of the consumers.
The Managing Director JPDCL also apprised about the benefits and operation of these smart meters, while shedding light on their accuracy and efficiency. He also cleared the doubts, queries raised by the presidents of market associations.
The Divisional Commissioner assured all stakeholders that the introduction of smart meters is an initiative intended to usher in a new era of transparency and precision in power consumption measurement. The ultimate goal is to facilitate error-free readings and ensure the proper utilisation of electricity while collecting revenue in a just and genuine manner, he emphasised.
The Div Com also directed JPDCL to notify helpline numbers to address the distress calls regarding smart meters and redress issues promptly. He also asked for a regular review of the functioning of the control rooms, Helpline numbers.
The Div Com also assured the civil society that JPDCL officials will be designated for installation of meters to redress issues on the spot.
The meeting was attended by DIG, Shakti Pathak; MD JPDCL, Shivanant Tayal; Chief Engineer JPDCL, Sandeep Seth; ADC Jammu, Harvinder Singh; SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; besides Presidents along with members of Industries and Traders associations.
