TANGEDCO Officials install prepaid meters in Chennai
Posted on: 24/Sep/2019 1:54:12 PM
There are over 2.60 Crores of electrical connections in the state of Tamil Nadu.
So, the average demand is in excess of 13,500 Megawatts.
In this situation, there is a widespread complaint that the consumers do not pay the consumption EB charges as required. The main culprits may be the local administrations and educational institutions. This leads to a financial crisis for TANGEDCO.
Several people indulge in electricity theft by tapping the connections from the various pillar boxes set up for the residential and shop electricity connections. Some other modes of electrical energy theft are deployed such as tapping power from one house to another or placing a magnet on the electrical energy meter preventing it from functioning. These misuses lead to huge losses for TANGEDCO running into lakhs of Rupees.
In order to prevent the above, the fixing of ‘pre-paid’ meters was planned by TANGEDCO. The pre-paid meter is facility is just similar to the payment of prepaid charges as done for cell phones. The consumers pay TANGEDCO in advance as a form of ‘recharge’ every month.
Subsequently, the electrical energy equivalent to the prepaid amount will be supplied. Thus, customers need to recharge every month. Only this system would ensure uninterrupted supply of electric power.
Further, through this method, stealing of electrical energy can be detected. So, TANGEDCO officials have been eager to implement this prepaid system.
Presently, prepaid meters are being installed in various places in the Chennai Metro City including T Nagar on a ‘trial basis’.
In this regard, a TANGEC+DCO Official explained:
‘We have been expediting the installation of ‘prepaid’ meters. However, the agencies/companies have been reluctant to go ahead with this - we have been holding discussions with them.
Presently, the ‘prepaid’ meters are being installed in T Nagar and Chingleput on a trial basis.
We have planned to expedite this task and finish it earlier. There some network-related problems in some areas which need rectification. This rectification work is also in progress.
Once the prepaid meter system is implemented, it would be beneficial not only to TANGEDCO but also the consumers - issues such as the delayed meter reading registration by the TANGEDCO staff can be prevented.`
