Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) said that it is against smart metres in the state on two grounds – “illogical” selection of areas for its installation and its prices.
HYC president, Robertjune Kharjahrin said that the government wanted to instal 20,000 smart meters in Shillong city where there are less Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AC and T) losses.
“But if you look at the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) report the AT and C losses in the entire state the less leakage was in Shillong. So why did you bring in smart meters in Shillong where there is less leakages,” Kharjahrin said.
The AT and C loss is an actual measure of performance of a power distribution system as it shows the gap of input energy into the system and the units for which the payment is collected.
The HYC president further said that the smart meter project should be first implemented in the places where there are huge AT &C losses, such as the Garo Hills.
Kharjahrin also said that a smart meter, which actually cost around Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3000, the government was buying one at Rs. 10,000.
The HYC president also added that later on, the then Power Minister had clarified that they would buy a smart meter at around Rs. 3750.
Kharjahrin said that the HYC would first like to see in what areas the government wants to implement the smart meters.
“…and if the area they want to implement it, is an area where there is less AT &C losses, it will not serve the purpose of putting the smart meter. Secondly, we would file Right to Information (RTI) with regards to the cost of the smart meters,” the HYC president said.