Chennai: In a major drive to plug revenue losses, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) proposes to replace all the 36.87 lakh conventional electro-mechanical meters with digital meters by December next year to ensure accurate recording of power consumption.
Tangedco proposes to undertake the replacement of conventional meters by digital meters as part of the Central government-sponsored Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP), which is being implemented in 110 towns including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchy.
As per the proposal, Tangedco plans to replace 31.86 lakh single phase and 12.34 lakh three phase conventional meters in the state. Of these, it has so far replaced 2.86 lakh single phase and 4.47 three phase meters with digital meters. Out of a total 18.64 lakh single/three phase conventional meters in the city, 2.27 lakh digital meters have been installed.
“We are planning to complete the meter replacement drive by December next year. We have placed orders for the procurement of single and three-phase digital meters,” a senior Tangedco official said.
The official said when compared to conventional meters, digital meters minimise possibilities of pilferage of energy through tampering, have more accurate recording of energy consumption and do not get appreciably affected by mechanical and magnetic disturbances.
Besides, electromechanical meters do not record energy if consumed in very small quantities and old meters start running slowly due to moving components in the meter getting worn out.
“Digital meters are highly sensitive and accurately record power consumption,” the official said.
Dismissing apprehensions of consumers that they will get inflated bills after change of meter, the official said since the digital meter records power consumption more accurately than conventional meters, there would be a marginal increase in power consumption. “Many consumers are also not aware that some equipment like television, and DVD players, when switched off through remote controls, continue to consume energy unless they are switched off from the switch mounted on the equipment itself,” the official explained.
