Customer hits PGVCL staffer during smart meter installation in Surendranagar

Surendranagar: The Deputy Engineer of the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) has filed a police complaint against an electricity customer for slapping an electrician of the power company.

The incident, whose video has gone viral, took place in Sanjeevni Society in the Ratanpar area of the city, where an electrician had gone to install a smart meter at a consumer’s house that had installed solar panels. Deputy Engineer Babubhai Prajapati and Electrical Assistant Alpeshbhai Chauhan had gone to install the solar smart meter when the household members objected to the removal of the old meter and the installation of the new smart meter. Shortly after, Jairajsingh Rajendrasingh Parmar arrived, created a commotion, and claimed that smart meters were being installed without an official circular. He then slapped the electrician on duty.

In response, Deputy Engineer Babubhai Prajapati lodged a police complaint against Jairajsingh Rajendrasingh Parmar for injuring Electrical Assistant Alpeshbhai Rameshbhai Chauhan by hitting him on the head.

Deputy Engineer Babubhai Prajapati stated that the installation of smart meters is currently being carried out only in homes where people have requested solar systems. Furthermore, the smart meters are installed only after obtaining the customer’s consent. In this case, the smart meter was installed after asking the woman in the household, but later, the altercation took place with another member. DeshGujarat