Shillong, Feb 2: The Meghalaya government’s ambitious Smart Meter project has hit a financial snag as the state faces significant cost disparities and awaits the Ministry of Power’s green light to proceed with installations. Despite being tendered out, the quoted rates by the contractor remain substantially higher than the state’s initial estimates, raising concerns about the project’s financial viability.
Power Minister AT Mondal emphasized that the discovered rates, though in line with those in neighbouring Northeastern states, have prompted Meghalaya to seek a review from the central government. “We have petitioned the Government of India and raised the matter at the Power Ministers’ Conference,” Mondal stated. “Their response suggests implementing the project first and recovering costs through the savings it generates.”
Mondal clarified that the discovered rate refers to the rate quoted by the contractor, which is higher than our estimated cost.
Speaking on the financial constraints, Mondal stated, “We have petitioned the Government of India, and I have personally raised this issue at the Power Ministers’ Conference, but we have not received any positive response. The Government of India’s stance is that we should implement the Smart Meter project, and from the resulting savings, we will be able to recover the costs.”
However, financial hurdles are not the only challenges. Consumer concerns about the origin and reliability of the smart meters persist. Mondal assured the public that stringent quality checks will be enforced. “We won’t simply procure and install these meters without approvals from designated agencies. Consumer interest remains our top priority,” he affirmed.
To address fears of inflated bills, the government plans to conduct simultaneous checks using both conventional and smart meters to compare readings. “Smart meters provide accurate data,” Mondal said. “If the actual consumption is higher, it will naturally reflect in the bills. But when power usage is efficient, consumers can benefit from precise readings.”
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