In a first, smart meters installed on trial basis in Srinagar

SRINAGAR — Amid complaints of inadequate electricity, the Power Development Department (PDD) in a first has started installing the smart meters on trial basis in Srinagar area, which according to the authorities will help the consumers to get aware of their regular consumption.

Chief Engineer of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation (KPDC), Aijaz Ahmad Dar said that around 200 smart meters have been installed on trial basis in Cooperative Colony in Humhama area of Srinagar outskirts since yesterday.

He added that the meters would remain there on trial basis for a month till the meters would arrive here for the installation. “Around 57000 smart meters will have to be installed soon, which will arrive here on a trial basis,” Dar said.

Dar further added that he is not sure about the accurate date of the delivery of meters, but stated that these meters would arrive soon.

About smart meters, the KPDC Chief Engineer said that the consumer would not have to wait for billing now after the installation of smart meters and it would help the consumers to get aware about his everyday consumption.

Besides helping the consumers, the installation of smart meters would also help the department in identifying the consumers who are not using the electricity judiciously. “The department will be able to identify the people who are not cooperating with it,” he said.

Pertinently, the government had stated that it will begin installing smart meters in twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar from November 15.

Sanctioned under Prime Minister Development Programme (PMDP), the government had announced that 20,000 meters would be installed in the twin cities in the first phase and the process would continue in a phased manner until all two lakh meters are installed.