By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 18: Power Minister AT Mondal has stated that the implementation of smart meters in Meghalaya will not proceed if the meters fail to meet the required standards.
Mondal’s statement comes in response to objections raised by certain quarters regarding the smart meter project. He recently sought additional funds under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) from the Ministry of Power to prevent adverse impacts on consumers. He explained that the discovered cost of smart meters is significantly higher and that the additional costs would either have to be borne by the discom (distribution company) or passed on to consumers. However, he noted that compared to other northeastern states, Meghalaya is in a relatively favorable position. He emphasised that additional funds from the Ministry would greatly benefit the state’s discom.
Currently, the government has no definitive timeline for rolling out the scheme, as the project remains in the tendering stage. The state government has also sought an increase in the subsidy amount per meter, warning that without it, the additional costs would either be passed on to consumers or absorbed by the utility.
