Lokmat News Network Mumbai: Mahavitaran has awarded the contract to four private companies to install smart meters in the state, and the Maharashtra Electricity Consumers’ Association has asked how this smart meter, which costs Rs. 12,000, will be affordable to the electricity consumers. What happens if the electricity consumer’s meter malfunctions, burns? And what meter will give them? In other words, since the burden of smart meters will ultimately fall on the electricity consumers, they will also get the shock of smart meters.
Mahavitran has awarded smart meter contracts to Adani, NCC, Monte Carlo and Genus in the state. Adani has already won the contract from BEST to install smart meters. While this is being criticized from the political sphere, now Mahavitran’s smart meter contract has also been awarded to Adani and 3 other companies. Adani Group and Mahavitran could not be reached for comment when contacted.
Electricity experts say… According to Pratap Hogade, the price of one meter is twelve thousand rupees. If the electricity bill is Rs 12,000 for consumers in rural areas, it takes a long time to pay for it, and their well is not that much. That is, the cost of the meter has become more than their bill. There is also no study in which area it has been successfully tested before implementing the Rs 27,000 crore project. Although the center has 60 percent share in this, 40 percent burden has to be borne by Mahadistribution and it will be recovered from the consumers.
Who will install where, how much Smart Meter Company Zone Meter Cost (crore) Adani Bhandup, Kalyan, Konkan 63,44,066 7,594.45 Adani Baramati, Pune 52,45,917 6,294.28 NCC Nashik, Jalgaon 28,86,622 3,461.06 NCC Latur, Nanded, Ch. Sambhajinagar 22,77,759 3,330.53 Monte Carlo Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur 30,30,346 3,635.53 Genus Akola, Amravati 21,76,636 2,607.61