The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is making yet another bid to contain its 2% commercial loss sustained mainly due to the laxity in replacing faulty meters across the State.
The bid complements an initiative to provide smart meters for about 5 lakh customers who consume above 200 units a month. Inception of smart meters is expected give the board a clear idea about the demand and supply details, and provide SMS alerts to customers. It will also put in place a centralised metering and monitoring system.
Board sources told The Hindu that procedures had been completed for purchasing 16 lakh static meters that would substitute the non-functional ones and expedite the process to check revenue drain.
But the introduction of smart meters in phases to 5 lakh consumers who are only less than 5% of the total clientele of 1.20 crore will be grossly inadequate to plug the commercial loss incurred due to faulty meters, according to experts. While the board estimates the number of faulty meters at 5 lakh, unofficial estimates peg it at about 12 lakh and only a simultaneous drive will help it overcome the loss, they say.
Lack of timely concerted efforts on the part of the board over the years in detecting and replacing faulty meters is being blamed for the loss sustained on this account. On detecting a faulty meter, the board will levy an average amount based on the power consumed for three months before the meter stops working. Though the wilful comprise only a minority, a majority of the consumers do not report the fault and often use it to their advantage for drawing maximum power till the board personnel stumble upon it.
On citing the alleged laxity of the board in replacing the defective meters from time to time, board sources say that meter procurement is rather a complicated process. Those who unsuccessfully participate in the bid to supply meters move court and the entire process gets entangled in litigation. Such litigation often delays the replacement process. This also points to the board’s laxity in clearing the legal tangles to speed up the procurement during the previous years, sources say.
