MARGAO: To plug power thefts, the conference of State power ministers has decided to replace all the meters of consumers in the country with smart meters.
Touting the decision as a ‘game changer’ in the power sector, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said, “We have been able to get almost a pan-India consensus to go in for smart and tamper proof meters across India. With the support of the States, I am really confident that it will be a game changer for the power sector in the country.”
He was speaking at the State power ministers’ conference.
Earlier, Goyal said that power thefts occur due to the nexus between politicians, electricity department officials and big companies.
“Power thefts vary from State to State. The average AT&C losses of power are between 24 to 26%. Certain States have as high as 50 and 60% and some States like Andhra Pradesh have 9.4% loss,” Goyal said.
He said a consensus on smart metering would help in saving these losses of power which now stands at a whopping 26% of total power produced.
“Modi inherited the electricity companies in Gujarat with a loss of Rs 2,500 crore when became chief minister 14 years ago. Within a short period, the Gujarat government converted that loss into a profit, without increasing power tariff,” the minister said.
“We have to work at the State level to stop power thefts; and I know that this is not a problem of the poor,” Goyal said.
Union Coal Secretary Anil Swarup, meanwhile, urged the States to buy coal from Coal India and to stop imports of the coal for power generation.
He said, “Coal India’s endeavours are to give good quality coal to the States. Some of the coal blocks have failed to produce optimum amount which is serious.”
