Surat: Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL) will start installing smart prepaid electricity meters in Surat city from the end of the month of January next year. Initially such meters will be installed at the governmentr offices. Later the residential units will be covered starting from Pilod area for testing purpose. In phased manner, such meters will be installed in the areas of Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Vapi and Bharuch areas.

DGVCL has so far procured a stock of 40,000 meters. The power distribution arm, under GUVNL is presently doing internal testing exercise for the meters which shall complete, most probably in January second week next year. Each meter costs Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 but consumers will need to pay nothing for meters.

The main purpose of errecting smart meterts is to prevent power theft. Prepaid meters will provide data per meter to power company. DGVCL has around 36 lakh power consumers. The first phase of roll out of smart meters will involve 19 lakh meters. The company has also made an mobile application through which the consumers will be able to do reacharge of their prepaid power meters. Consumers will also get to know the data of their usage in almost real time manner.

Once the recharge of smart meter is over, consumers will get 8 to 10 hours to do another recharge. When there’s public holiday, they shal get even 24 hours period for recharge after which power connection will shut. Those unable to do recharge online will be able to access the bill collection centre for same. DeshGujarat