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Smart Meter: A big change has been made in Rajasthan regarding smart electricity meters. Now it will not be mandatory to install smart meters for new electricity connection in the state. Consumers have been relieved after the new order issued by the power distribution companies (Discom). The amendment released by the office of Discom Chairperson Aarti Dogra has clarified that now the new connection will also be able to install non-smart meters with old patterns.
Now there will be the facility to replace the old meters with poor or damaged meters. However, where smart meters are already installed or installation is going on, bad meters will be replaced by smart meters.
Rules change due to lack of smart meter
This big decision has been taken due to lack of smart meter supply and shortage of employees. This amendment has been implemented keeping in mind the cases of continuous pending meters. The imperative to change the meters within 24 hours in urban areas and within 72 hours in rural areas will continue. If a consumer’s meter is not changed for two months, then he will get a 5 percent discount in the electricity bill. The amount of this exemption will have to be borne by the concerned engineer, so that accountability can be fixed on negligence.
Congress bid- victory of public struggle
Former minister Pratap Singh Khacharia described this decision of the government as the victory of the people. He said that the smart meter case was a big scam and this was going to increase the burden on the public’s pocket. People across Rajasthan raised their voice against this decision, due to which the BJP government had to bow down.
Khachariwas said, “The government had deployed the private goons of the police, government department and the company to suppress the protest, but they were all helpless in front of the public struggle of the public. This victory is only for the public. The BJP government should learn from this defeat and avoid any dictatorial and arbitrary decisions in the future.” He further said that if an attempt was made to install smart meters with frauds anywhere in the future, then the public would once again strongly oppose.
The effect of the revised rules will be that
Old meters will also be installed in new electricity connections. Permission to place old non-smart meters in place of bad meters. Smart meters are mandatory only in areas where meters have been installed or are about to be installed. If the meter is not changed within two months, the consumer will get a discount of 5%. There was a long dispute over smart meter in Rajasthan. After this decision of the government, now consumers are expected to get great relief.