Power consumers in Lonavla would soon have prepaid electricity meters like prepaid cellphones. The facility will help them pay for electricity in advance and use it in proportion to payment.
Power consumers in Lonavla would soon have prepaid electricity meters like prepaid cellphones. The facility will help them pay for electricity in advance and use it in proportion to payment.
State energy minister Ajit Pawar inaugurated the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (MSEDCL) ‘prepaid meter’ system in Mumbai on Wednesday. Its managing director, Ajey Mehta, and principal secretary of state energy department, Subrato Ratho, were present.
In the first phase of the project, 25,000 prepaid electricity meters would be installed in Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pen, Kalyan and Kolhapur electricity zones, as well as in tourist places like Matheran, Mahabaleshwar and Chikhaldara.
Chief engineer of Pune zone of MSEDCL, SP Nagtilak, told DNA that initially about 2,000 prepaid meters would be set in Lonavla within a week. There are many bungalows and flats, which are used by owners only on weekends. The prepaid scheme would be useful for them to control power expenses.
Presently, they have to pay rent of power meters even if they are not living in the bungalow.
He said due to prepaid meters, consumers can make advance payment and use power only when they need it. These meters have a facility to check how much power is consumed and how much money is spent. So, consumers would know in advance when they should recharge the meters.
Nagtilak said the power utility employees have identified houses where prepaid meters should be set up. Once the prepaid meters are transported to Lonavla depot within two-three days, implementation of the scheme would start.
He said after the project is successful in Lonavla, it would be implemented in Pune city.
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