PNS|Vijayawada
Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayananda has claimed that the pilot project of smart meters in the Srikakulam district is a success contrary to adverse reports that appeared in a section of the media.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Vijayanand said that the introduction of smart meters in the agriculture sector is a revolutionary step and the pilot project in the Srikakulam district has yielded good results.
He said that after examining the viability of fixing smart meters to agriculture pump sets, the DISCOMs have decided to install them to the agriculture pump sets.
“The pilot project, taken up in Srikakulam, is a success. Prayas Energy Group (PEG) statistics were one year old and the statistics they are giving are fresh,” he observed.
Vijayanand said that 83.16 IR meters, which were installed in the Srikakulam district under the pilot project, have been working efficiently through which live reading is being recorded. The problems that arose during the last few months have been resolved, he stated.
“Under the pilot project in Srikakulam district, over 29,000 smart meter connections were given of which only 6.6% meters were either given trouble or were burnt. The PEG data is not correct. If we calculate with the official data of the government, the payback period will come in two-and-a-half years. The figures are not correct as PEG put the average power purchase price at Rs 4.20 per unit,” he said.
Vijayanand said that as per the guidelines issued by the Central government and the Central electricity authority, the fixing of smart meters to the agriculture pump sets would be completed by 2025, adding that a total of 18 lakh smart meters would be installed to the agriculture motors, which would also be useful to check the proliferation of power.
The farmers did not express any concerns or doubts about the smart meters, he claimed, stating that acceptance letters were also taken from the farmers regarding the fixing of smart meters. He said that over 16,55,988 farmers have extended support for the fixing of smart meters.
“It is not improper to spread misinformation on smart meters. The farmers should not be made to feel tension and anxiety on the smart meters issue,” Vijayanand stated. “Andhra Pradesh will receive Rs 1,600 crore grants from the Central government for purchasing and installing smart meters and allied materials,” Vijayanand made it clear. He said that the allied material would be used in installing the meters which provide protection to the farmers from electrocution.
AP Genco CMD B Sridhar Reddy, APCPDCL Chairman P Janardhan Reddy, and Energy Secretary BAPV Kumar Reddy were also present.
