UPPCL director gets notice for failure to install pre-paid meters

Taking a serious note of the non-compliance of its directions on installation of prepaid meters, the electricity regulator on Monday issued a notice to the UPPCL director (commercial) asking him to file a compliance report by July 31 or face action.

Directing its ire at director (commercial), UP Power Corporation Ltd, Sanjay Singh, the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) asked him to remain present in all the hearings on the implementation of prepaid metering till the completion of work.

Curiously, Singh, whom the UPERC has found defying its orders is its own staff member who is currently with the UPPCL on deputation.

In an order jointly issued by UPERC chairman Desh Deepak Verma and member SK Agrawal, the Commission expressed displeasure over the delay in integration to facilitate online token generation.

Many states have implemented prepaid metering but UP is lagging behind despite repeated directives from the Commission.

“It is obvious that the matter is not being taken seriously by senior officers of the UPPCL,” it observed.

According to the Commission, activities like meter reading, preparation of bills, distribution and collection of payments takes considerable time and effort and each activity has an associated cost which is being charged from the consumers.

“This cost can be eliminated by the use of prepaid metering system which can improve the fragile condition of the discoms. Use of prepaid meter is beneficial for consumers as well as distribution companies,” it said.