Shillong, Feb 2, 2025: Meghalaya is awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Power before proceeding with the Smart Meter project. Power Minister AT Mondal stated, “We have already tendered out, our discovered rate is quite high, though it is almost similar as compared to other Northeastern states. We have flagged the issue to the Ministry of Power. So, again, we are writing to them. Discovered rate means the rate quoted by the contractor, which is higher than what we have quoted.”
The Minister emphasized that the state government will address concerns regarding the Smart Meter project before its implementation. “Smart meters cannot just be bought and installed. There are certain agencies that have to give the go-ahead, and only then can we proceed. We will take all those issues into account.”
When asked about consumer apprehensions, he responded, “Yeah, we will remove the apprehensions. The consumers’ concern is our topmost priority, and we will look into it.”
Explaining the functionality of smart meters, Mondal remarked, “Actually, a smart meter is smart enough to bill whatever power you consume. Whenever we go for smart meters, we will first check by placing the original meter and the new smart meter side by side to ensure there are no discrepancies. A smart meter captures all the nitty-gritty of power distribution, which is why bills may appear higher. But if used wisely, it will provide accurate readings. It’s not a question of apprehensions, but if there are any, we will have to take people into confidence. There may be apprehensions, but we have to ensure they are addressed.”
Regarding the project’s current status, Mondal clarified, “We are going to get a signal from the Ministry of Power, and the moment we get it, we will go ahead. Whatever is coming under the RDSS and all these schemes, we have not started yet, but we will be starting very soon. We are hopeful, but it all depends on the clearances. There are some nodal agencies overseeing these issues, and once they are taken care of, we will proceed.”