‘Several consumers not satisfied with smart meters’

LUCKNOW: Feedback on smart meters is not very encouraging for the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), as 1,067 consumers of the 2,230 surveyed on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of smart meters installed in their homes.

However, 669 consumers expressed satisfaction and only six expressed total satisfaction over smart meters. As many as 488 did not express ny opinion on smart meters, said Avadhesh Kumar Varma, chairman, UP State Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad.

He added, “This shows that 61% of the consumers are not satisfied with the performance of smart meters in the state.”

However, an official of UPPCL said there would be a statement only after feedback of all smart meter consumers was recorded. “A comment at this stage is not feasible. Let us wait for some time for the clear picture to emerge,” he added.

“It’s strange that 488 consumers have not expressed any opinion about the smart meters. The companies may have pressed them for not giving any feedback. We are keeping an eye on the feedbacks by consumers,” said Varma. Power minister Shrikant

Sharma had directed the UPPCL to take feedback from 12 lakh consumers using smart meters. After that the future of smart metres would be decided by him. The minister also warned of strict action against firms, which have installed defective meters in the state.

POWER MINISTER SHRIKANT SHARMA HAD DIRECTED THE UPPCL TO TAKE FEEDBACK FROM 12 LAKH CONSUMERS