Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji
The Goa Electricity Department (GED) is likely to roll out the installation of smart prepaid meters for domestic consumers in the state by next month.
“The installation of smart prepaid meters for domestic consumers will be carried out in phases. Consumers will be informed in advance when installation is scheduled in their respective areas. Authorised personnel from DigiSmart Networks Private Limited, duly approved by the Goa Electricity Department, will conduct site surveys and meter replacement,” said GED Superintending Engineer Mayur Hede.
In a step towards modernising Goa’s power distribution system, GED has planned the phased replacement of over 7.5 lakh existing electricity meters with smart prepaid meters by August 2027. Presently, smart meter installation at substations is complete, and the department is in the process of installing smart meters for its transformers and government consumers.
He said that consumers will not have to pay for the new meter or for the replacement with smart meters.
“The meter will be installed by the department through an Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP), DigiSmart Networks Private Limited, at no cost to the consumer. The AMISP will also create the necessary infrastructure required for smart metering across the state. On completion, the AMISP will continue to maintain the system for the next eight years. Any defects during this period will be attended to by the AMISP,” Hede said.
The existing system of billing is in post-paid mode, wherein the consumer pays the monthly electricity charges after consumption during the month.
“Once the new smart prepaid meters are installed, the consumer will have to recharge in advance, just like mobile or DTH recharge, and the amount will be deducted from the consumer’s account as energy is consumed,” Hede said.
There will be no bills, and consumers will be alerted through the mobile app and SMS alerts as and when the recharged amount nears zero. The first alert about a low recharge
amount will be triggered seven days in advance, then after three days, and the final one on the last day. In case the consumer fails to recharge, the supply will get disconnected. On recharging, the supply will be immediately restored.
“The consumer will be able to recharge through the app (online), at department counters, or at cooperative banks (offline). There will be no disconnection during late evening hours or on Sundays or holidays, even if the recharge amount is exhausted,” Hede said.
