Consumers powerless in face of meter shortage
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, September 13
Power consumers in the state are a harried lot with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) running short of electricity meters. The shortage has led to an inordinate delay in releasing new connections and replacing defective/burnt meters.

Sources said the shortage of three phase meters was not acute, but there is a huge backlog for single phase meters. The stock position as on September 7 shows the corporation had just 1,888 single phase and 2,193 three phase meters whereas the demand is quite high. The sources said from 10,411 pending applications for new connections as on March 31, the number rose to 27,233 by June 30. Inquiries reveal that the widening demand and supply gap has resulted into such a situation.

The PSPCL authorities claim after receiving an application from a general category consumer for a new connection, the meter is installed in a week's time. However, in some areas, if any additional infrastructure (system augmentation) is required, the deadline is one month.

PSPCL Director (Distribution) Arun Verma said: "The corporation purchases single/three phase meters on a regular basis. However, to meet the rising demand and to clear pending cases, a tender has been floated while another is in process. We are at an advance stage of getting the supply of meters."

Consumers who have submitted applications for the replacement of their defective meters have been facing a raw deal. They say the corporation is violating the norms by taking unreasonably long time in replacing defective meters.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) guidelines state the defunct meter has to be replaced within five days of the receipt of a complaint. However, a PSPCL report mentions till June 30, 13,044 complaints regarding defunct meters were not redressed within five days.

"Non-replacement of defunct meters beyond five days causes financial loss to the corporation. Since billing is done on the basis of previous year's average, there is every possibility that the consumer might have installed new appliances that consume more power. In that case, the PSPCL suffers a loss," said a power official. Likewise, till June 30, PSPCL failed to replace 57,769 defective metres which were to be replaced within 10 days from the date of complaint.

long wait

The stock position as on September 7 shows the corporation had just 1,888 single phase and 2,193 three phase meters whereas the demand is quite high

From 10,411 pending applications for new connections as on March 31, the number rose to 27,233 by June 30

PSPCL is violating regulatory guidelines by taking unreasonably long time in replacing defective meters