en.Wedoany.com Reported - Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal announced that the smart metering project in Haryana will commence on the ground from August 31, following a review of the state's power sector in Chandigarh.
The meeting was held yesterday, attended by Haryana Power Minister Shri Anil Vij, along with senior officials from the state government, the Union Ministry of Power, and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in the power sector. Discussions covered topics such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the operational and financial parameters of power distribution companies (DISCOMs). The Minister emphasized that electricity is an economic commodity and that utilities must operate on sound commercial principles, with a focus on reducing power procurement costs, rationalizing expenditures, and increasing revenue. He noted that while AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) losses have shown continuous improvement, further performance enhancement is needed.
Shri Manohar Lal stated that timely settlement of government department dues and subsidies through an automatic payment mechanism is a necessary measure. After reviewing the progress of smart metering, he recommended expediting the awarding of project contracts. The state committed to commencing on-ground smart metering work from August 31. He further stressed the need for a phased rollout of prepaid smart meters, starting with government consumers and employees, followed by high-end consumers with loads exceeding 10 kW, accompanied by appropriate incentives for voluntary conversion.
The Minister advised the state to prioritize all loss reduction efforts and set time-bound targets for completion. He also reviewed the status of resource adequacy and transmission planning within the state, recommending that the state government resolve pending issues to ensure that new capacity additions keep pace with demand growth. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme, requiring the state to formulate a focused action plan to expand consumer registration under the scheme, thereby reducing electricity costs for consumers.
Shri Manohar Lal noted that sincere efforts would make state DISCOMs financially viable and enable the state's power sector to achieve self-sufficiency. He reiterated that the Union Government would continue to provide support and cooperation for the comprehensive development of the state. Haryana Power Minister Shri Anil Vij assured that the state government would take all necessary measures to implement approved projects and improve the overall performance of the state's power sector.
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