To reduce the losses occurring due to human error, Haryana Government has formulated a plan to use handheld devices for accurate meter reading of all electricity consumers in the State. The work on this plan is likely to be started from June 1 onwards.
The meter readings will be downloaded directly to the handheld device without any manual or human intervention. The issue was discussed at the meeting of the UDAY Monitoring Committee of the Power Department held under Chief Secretary, DS Dhesi on Tuesday.
During the meeting, it was informed that the loss of units due to human error would be mitigated by this process. The work order has already been awarded to five firms for all the circles of Haryana Discoms.
The power discoms have formulated an action plan to achieve the targeted AT and C losses under which schemes such as Urban Feeder Sanitisation and ‘Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon’ are being implemented in urban and rural areas.
The Chief Secretary said that steps are being taken under these schemes such as improving accuracy of reading of energy meters via replacement of defective, faulty, burnt, glass broken, no display, inconsistent, electromechanical and old version meters, besides minimising occurrence of theft of electricity via relocation of meters which are located inside the consumer premises and are prone to theft of electricity.
It was apprized that new connections were being released to houses without electricity connection in unauthorised colonies to bring them into the billing net. In Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam limited (UHBVNl), the work of urban feeder sanitisation on 347 feeders out of 586 feeders has so far been completed while in Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam limited (DHBVNl), the work on 688 feeders out of 1132 feeders has been completed.
On the progress of Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon’ scheme, it was informed that in UHBVNl, 278 feeders have been covered under the scheme (Phase I to III) out of which the activities have been completed on 119 feeders and the supply hours increased accordingly.
Similarly in DHBVNl, 262 feeders have been covered under the scheme (Phase I to III) out of which the activities have been completed on 83 feeders and the supply hours increased accordingly. As many as 125 feeders each of UHBVNl and DHBVNl have been selected under Phase-IV.
The Chief Secretary was informed that the Power Department has taken various digital initiatives such as online payment facility for electricity bills through net banking, credit card, debit card, online wallets such as Paytm, Mpesa and Common Service Centre, besides providing online facility for submission of application form for new connection, extension of load, reduction of load and change of name.
Online facility has also been provided for registration of grievances of consumers and online tracking of grievances. Billing alerts and payment alerts are also being provided through SMS and centralised call centre has been set up for electricity complaints with toll-free number in the State.