Panaji: Smart electricity meters will soon offer consumers the option of switching to prepaid mode, similar to mobile phone connections. Mayur Hede, superintending engineer and nodal officer for the project, said consumers will have the choice between prepaid and postpaid connections.
Installation Progress
Around 15,000 digital meters have been replaced with smart meters in Goa, covering both government and private consumers. All meters at department substations have been upgraded. Current installations are ongoing in Bambolim, Taleigao, and Panaji.
Electricity bills remain the same after meter replacement, with only the meter name updated on the bill.
Consumer App Features
A consumer-friendly app linked to the smart meter is ready but not yet public. It will allow users to check hourly, weekly, and fortnightly consumption patterns. Payment features, including prepaid recharges, are being incorporated and require approvals. The app is expected to open to the public in about 20 days.
Once fully operational, consumers can choose prepaid mode and recharge via the app. All payment features will be ready before the prepaid option is offered.
Project Scale and Cost
The department aims to replace 7.5 lakh meters by August 2027. Power minister Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar stated in the legislative assembly that the total project cost exceeds Rs 890 crore, with Rs 820 crore from the state government and Rs 70 crore from the central government under gross budgetary support.
Opposition and Concerns
Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes, opposing the smart meter installation, noted that several consumers have written to the department against meter replacement. He cited Section 47 of the Electricity Act 2002, which allows consumers to opt for prepaid meters voluntarily, not compulsorily. He argued that replacing functional meters is a financial burden and raised privacy concerns about consumer data being handled by a private party, as well as the fate of meter readers.
The department maintains that meter replacement is not voluntary but a techno-commercial decision part of the nationwide Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to modernize infrastructure. Officials assured no bill increase, as existing meters are digital. Benefits include remote connection/disconnection, time-of-day metering, and monitoring of voltage fluctuations and power failures.
