Smart Meters To Curb Power Pilferage In Odisha: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Minister of State (independent) for Energy, Dibya Shankar Mishra on Monday said that the Odisha government has decided to take specific measures to curb rampant power pilferage.

Informing the media here, the minister said a decision has been taken to install pre-paid and smart power meters in the houses of the consumers.

“About 4500 pre-paid meters will be installed in Sambalpur city on a pilot basis. The pre-paid meter will have a digital card which will help the consumers to recharge it by paying the bill in advance. Power connectivity will be disconnected if the bill is not paid in time,” Mishra said.

He said the smart meter will be installed on an experimental basis in Rourkela. The notable feature of the smart meter is that the consumer cannot tamper with it. Any tampering with this meter will be automatically identified, the minister pointed out.

He, however, made it clear that the consumers need not pay anything towards the installation of the pre-paid and smart meters.