BESCOM TO INSTALL PREPAID SMART ELECTRICITY METERS IN D’GERE, C’DURGA

'The prepaid meter can be topped up just like prepaid mobile phone plans and consumers can pay only for the amount of electricity they intend to use'

- G SUBHASH CHANDRA @Chitradurga/Davanagere

BESCOM is all set to install smart electricity meters for all its new connections in twin districts of Davanagere and Chitradurga. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had recently directed electricity supply companies (Escoms) to ensure that prepaid metering and self-billing digital systems are accessible to consumers from April 1 and June 1, respectively.

Another feature is that the prepaid meter can be topped up just like prepaid mobile phone plans. Consumers can pay only for the amount of electricity they intend to use. "This will give them an idea of how much electricity they are actually consuming or wasting. They can accordingly restrict their usage," says a senior engineer in the Bescom. While procuring prepaid meters at all retail outlets of Escoms, consumers must pay fixed/demand charges as per the prevailing tariff rates and after that, they can recharge energy charges in the multiples of Rs 100 when required.