Visakhapatnam: The Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) has launched smart meters, starting with Visakhapatnam, as a strategic move to reduce dues, particularly in the government sector and industries. In the first phase, the company began with government departments, installing the first smart meter in the engineering section of the public health department at Seethammadhara in Visakhapatnam.
"Initially, we started with government connections and will later move to commercial, industrial, and domestic connections. Domestic consumers using less than 200 units are not required to install smart meters," said EPDCL chairman and managing director Immadi Prudhvi Tej. Talking to this correspondent, he mentioned that they have already installed 30,000 meters in the agricultural sector out of a total of 2.5 lakh farmers.
EPDCL has 60 lakh connections within its jurisdiction, covering the former districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, and West Godavari. Of these, only eight lakh are eligible for smart meters. The smart meters will be installed for 1.09 lakh government consumers, 22,820 industrial consumers, 5.80 lakh commercial consumers, 3.23 lakh domestic consumers, and 4,310 HT consumers.
The CMD noted that it would take more than a year to cover the entire jurisdiction, as the work will progress slowly in rural and tribal areas where technical personnel may face difficulties.
He added that the response from consumers has been positive, with no objections raised within the Discom zone. The idea behind the smart meters, which function similarly to a prepaid system, is to reduce the backlog of unpaid bills.
"We will be in a better position once the entire jurisdiction is covered under the prepaid system," the CMD stated.
Sources indicated that state government departments owe a total of ₹15 crore, with Visakhapatnam Steel Plant alone having dues of ₹50 crore as of now. "The steel plant management is making regular payments, albeit in smaller amounts, to reduce the dues," said Visakhapatnam district superintendent engineer E. Syambabu.
