You may no longer have to wait in long queues to pay your electricity bills thanks to the prepaid energy cards the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Ltd (MSEDCL) plans to introduce.
The MSEDCL has submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) to introduce prepaid meters for 25,000 consumers across the state, except Mumbai. The approval from Merc is awaited.
The Rs17-crore pilot project includes installing a prepaid card at the consumers’ meter boards. Once the card is recharged, the meter will emit certain signals. “A consumer can have a tight reign on his electricity bills after installing a prepaid meter,” said a senior MSEDCL official. There will also be some discount on tariff for consumers buying such meters.
The prepaid meters will help eliminate the exercise of meter reading and billing carried out by the MSEDCL. Officials say it will also prevent the tampering of bills and reduce the scope for power theft.
Maharashtra has been witnessing power theft, with its transmission and distribution losses standing at 40%.
NGOs, such as Prayas and Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, said that while conceptually the prepaid meter could be a powerful tool, there should be a comprehensive review of the project after the implementation process begins.
