Any View on the mission of Replacing current electricity Meters with Smart Meters

[mbhangui]

Our society has received a notice from the Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Board. They are asking residents to replace current meters with the so called smart meters in the guise of a national mission. While there are lot of advantages in having smart meters there are many concerns

1. This project has been given to few private companies like Adani, Tata and others. The govt is not at all involved in manufacturing, quality control and calibration of these meters. Tamil Nadu has already cancelled the contract to Adani citing corrupt practices. https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...to-adani-energy-solutions/article69049261.ece
2. The billing, maintenance of the smart meter infrastructure will be maintained by private players. So my concern is that consumers will be left to the mercy of these unscupulous private players. Surely these private players are not doing it out of charity.
3. In Mumbai, Nashik consumers have reported 1.5x to 3x the billing after smart meters have been installed
4. The agency that does the installation is 3rd party. Allegedly lot of goof ups happening here
5. Currently MSEDCL is calling them TOD meters (Time of day meters). The carrot is that you will be charged less during non-peak hours. But so far I have not found a single consumer saying that the billing has been reduced after smart meter installtion. Also these meters will be moved to a pre-paid model down the line.
6. The subtle threat by those in the society in favour of these smart meters is that sooner or later this will become mandatory. Now it is free, but later on these meters will cost you lot of money. Apparently these meters cost around Rs 20,000 now but it is free. As you all know that nothing comes free in this world. This amount will surely be exhorted from consumers in the form of extra billing, hidden charges, etc.
7. Mumbai high court has ruled that it is not mandatory for consumers to opt for smart meters as these metes will be moved to a pre-paid model. So after lot of furore in our society group, the society has made a google form available for members to opt out of smart meters

Have any one of you got smart meters installed? If yes, what has been your experience? Is the billing same or has it increased or has it reduced?

Search on the internet is scary.

 

[VMRKarnati]

In Andhra Pradesh, there is strong public resistance happening on this, and the issue is increasingly taking on a political dimension as well.
Based on the receiving info,, in many areas where the new meters have been installed, be it residential or commercial, they are reporting significantly very high electricity bills. beyond justification in comparison and nowhere practical to the actuals...

 

[Sean de Silva]

Our society has received a notice from the Maharashtra Electricity Distribution Board. They are asking residents to replace current meters with the so called smart meters in the guise of a national mission. While there are lot of advantages in having smart meters there are many concerns

1. This project has been given to few private companies like Adani, Tata and others. The govt is not at all involved in manufacturing, quality control and calibration of these meters. Tamil Nadu has already cancelled the contract to Adani citing corrupt practices. https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...to-adani-energy-solutions/article69049261.ece
2. The billing, maintenance of the smart meter infrastructure will be maintained by private players. So my concern is that consumers will be left to the mercy of these unscupulous private players. Surely these private players are not doing it out of charity.
3. In Mumbai, Nashik consumers have reported 1.5x to 3x the billing after smart meters have been installed
4. The agency that does the installation is 3rd party. Allegedly lot of goof ups happening here
5. Currently MSEDCL is calling them TOD meters (Time of day meters). The carrot is that you will be charged less during non-peak hours. But so far I have not found a single consumer saying that the billing has been reduced after smart meter installtion. Also these meters will be moved to a pre-paid model down the line.
6. The subtle threat by those in the society in favour of these smart meters is that sooner or later this will become mandatory. Now it is free, but later on these meters will cost you lot of money. Apparently these meters cost around Rs 20,000 now but it is free. As you all know that nothing comes free in this world. This amount will surely be exhorted from consumers in the form of extra billing, hidden charges, etc.
7. Mumbai high court has ruled that it is not mandatory for consumers to opt for smart meters as these metes will be moved to a pre-paid model. So after lot of furore in our society group, the society has made a google form available for members to opt out of smart meters

Have any one of you got smart meters installed? If yes, what has been your experience? Is the billing same or has it increased or has it reduced?

Search on the internet is scary.
View attachment 92927

Since the Bombay High Court has sagaciously ruled in our favour, the ruling dispensation cannot shove these smart meters down our throats. Ultimately it boils down to maneuvering society politics. We're happy with the existing digital meters.