CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, Dec 15: A total of 1,000 smart meters installed under the pilot project in Ranchi will be converted into prepaid meters from January 2023. The IT cell of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) has started its preparation. The meters installed under the pilot project have passed all the parameters of testing. Along with this, the work of installing 45,000 smart meters has also started in the city.
Notably, priority is being given to those consumers who have either applied for a new connection or have made a booking for a smart meter. After this, the old meters of all consumers will be converted into smart meters.
By the end of January, the system of smart prepaid meters will start in the capital. An app will be launched by JBVNL through which consumers will be able to pay their electricity bills. According to the departmental official, the target is to install smart prepaid meters in the homes of 3.5 lakh consumers in Ranchi. The department is claiming to complete this target in one and a half year time.
So far, smart meters have already been installed in one thousand houses in the capital. In the next phase, 10,000 meters are to be installed in Ranchi Central, Kokar, Doranda, East Ranchi, West Ranchi and New Capital areas.
According to department officials, the department will issue a toll-free number for those consumers who do not have a smartphone. Consumers will be able to call on that number for electricity bill-related benefits. On the other hand, the user has to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 100 in the app. Due to the new arrangement, the carelessness of workers will also be curbed and the department will be greatly benefited.
The electricity department official said that in the next one and a half years, smart prepaid meters will be made operational in the entire Ranchi. After this, the implementation of this system will be started in other big cities of the state.
Under this, smart prepaid meters will be installed in Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad. A draft is being prepared for this at the departmental level. Smart prepaid meter is already implemented in Bihar where it is working successfully in many districts including Patna where it was first started.
