MSEDCL gears up to replace old electricity meters with prepaid smart meters of 2 crore Maharashtra consumers

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Energy portfolio, had recently instructed the MSEDCL to provide quality and customer-oriented services to electricity consumers.

According to the MSEDCL, the existing conventional meters of more than two crore consumers in the state will be replaced with the prepaid smart meters. “After the installation, customers will be able to decide how much to spend on electricity,” an official statement said.

The MSEDCL added that consumers will regularly get information on how much electricity has been consumed or how much prepaid balance is remaining in their accounts on their mobile phones. “Hence, consumers would know how much electricity should be used according to their financial planning,” the statement added.

The new prepaid smart meters will be made available to the consumers free of cost. According to the MSEDCL, the cost of these meters will be met from the subsidy received from the central government and as a part of the expenditure made by the power utility.

Currently, a meter reading is conducted every month and a bill is sent accordingly which is then paid by the consumers. However, after the installation of the smart meters, consumers will have to make a pre-payment and then use the services.

No sudden power cuts at night

According to the MSEDCL, electricity supply will automatically be stopped once the prepaid amount is exhausted. However, if the same happens between 6 pm and 10 am, the supply will not be stopped. A consumer will have time till 10 am next morning to recharge his or her electricity meter.

Online payments from mobile phones will also be made available, the MSEDCL said, adding, when the prepaid amount is about to end, prior intimation to the consumers will be sent.