Kochi: Even as the Kerala State Electricity Board top officials claim that the process of replacing of faulty meters has been almost completed in Ernakulam region, hundreds of customers are still getting shocking bills due to defective devices. There are complaints that even the newly replaced meters are not working. The Board had launched an intensive drive to replace meters in all the districts last year.
KSEB offices have been getting regular complaints about huge bills as there is no mechanism for accurate meter reading. There are complaints that even unoccupied houses are getting huge bills. It also results in conflicts between KSEB field workers and consumers.
As the KSEB workers are not delivering new meters to households, customers have to register a complaint with the assistant engineer and take the device to the circle office to get it replaced. The consumers demand that in view of widespread complaints against faulty devices, special counters should be opened in all section offices to get them replaced.
Meanwhile, there are widespread complaints against the agreement signed between the Board and L&T for procurement of electric meters. The agreement has been signed as part of the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme(R-APDRP) which aims at automating the power distribution system. Hyderabad-based Nagarjuna Construction Company Pvt Ltd is carrying out the project for the Board.
“Frequent replacement of devices causes revenue losses and additional workload to the staff. If quality meters were purchased this could have been avoided,” said Jacob Lazar, state secretary, Electricity Workers Federation (AITUC).
At the same time, implementation of the '243 cr R-APDRP which will help in reducing transmission losses to a great extent and the carrying out of repair works in a short time has missed the deadline.
