With an aim to overcome to problem of inflated electricity bills, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) has recently taken a decision to replace 1.96 lakh defective meters by the end of this financial year. Sources revealed that the department has also released a metering plan under which 27,250 defective meters will be replaced each month.
Well established sources revealed that electronic meters were procured by the department worth Rs 600 crore and was installed in all the major cities of the state. Despite several complaints, consumers were still getting inflated electricity bills and no official listened to their grievances.
The plight of the consumers increased manifold as the billed electricity bills were not corrected by the department officials. After considering the plight of the electricity consumers, Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) officials had already passed directions to the UPCl regarding the replacement of faulty meters.
Well established sources revealed that the among the regions where consumers are complaining of defective meters, Rudrapur tops the list with 14,894 meters, followed by Sitarganj 12,327 meters, Pithroagarh 10,379 meters, Haridwar (Rural) 9,354 meters, Ranikhet 8,967 meters and Gopeshwar 8,959 meters.
One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that the instructions were already passed to the lineman to replace the meters. He lamented that the shortage of linesmen is hampering the department efforts to replace the meters. He said that electronic meters would be repaired and electricity bills would be rectified, if the officials find any error in the bills from the department’s side.