BENGALURU: It has been a year since the launch of the revamped distribution sector scheme and introduction of smart meters, yet consumers continue to pay high charges for installing new electricity meters.
Reason: The piling up of dues from various government agencies to energy supply corporations (Escoms).
A senior energy department official, seeking anonymity, said, “We are unable to reduce the rate of smart meters due to the piling up of dues from government agencies. One of the pre-conditions for getting the Union government subsidy for the scheme is that there should be no dues.
But at present, dues from all state government departments put together is over Rs 12,000crore, of which Rs 7,000crore -- nearly 50 per cent -- is from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department. Due to the Gruha Jyothi scheme, dues of Escoms have also accumulated to Rs 6,000-7,000 crore. We have not accounted for the interest that needs to be paid.”
In the past year, ever since the revamped distribution sector scheme and smart meters were introduced in Karnataka, over 2.5lakh consumers coming under Bescom’s jurisdiction have taken them.
The official said consumers have no option. “They need electricity for which they have to take the meters. As per new rules, only smart meters are given. People continue to complain about high costs but we are unable to do anything. We have sent multiple letters to government agencies and the finance department, asking them to clear the dues. A fractional amount is paid, but subsequently the bills rise again,” the official said.
Replying to the query on why electricity is not cut if bills are not cleared, which is the case for all other consumers, the official said it cannot be done with government institutions. The rate of a single-phase smart meter is Rs 4,998, while a three-phase smart meter costs Rs 8,880-28,000. “Government agencies cite lack of funds as the reason. The finance department is not sanctioning the allocated or even required funds due for regular works. In such a situation, clearing pending dues gets challenging,” the official added.