Consumer body questions clarity in official response
A photo of the letter sent by the Power Department to the consumer.
MAPUSA
Amid growing public concern and protests over the installation of smart meters, a reply issued by the Electricity Department to a consumer in North Goa has sparked fresh controversy over how officials are communicating with the public.
A resident of Siolim-Sodiem, Palmira Fernandes, wrote to the department saying she did not wish to install a smart meter at her home and preferred to continue with her existing conventional meter.
In response, the Assistant Engineer of Electricity Department Sub-Division III, Agarwada, sent a brief one-line reply stating that the old meter would be replaced with a smart meter as per departmental policy.
However, the way the letter was written has drawn criticism. The typed reply originally stated that “the old meter will not be replaced with the new meter”, but the word “not” was manually struck off with a pen, changing the meaning of the sentence.
Although the letter was signed by the concerned engineer, it did not include the officer’s name or contact details. It also enclosed a brochure on smart meters, but did not attach or refer to the official policy mentioned in the reply.
Consumer organisation GOACAN criticised the response as casual and unclear. Coordinator Roland Martins said the department must ensure accountability and clarity, especially amid widespread debate over smart meters.
“At a time of heightened concern, the letter should have been properly drafted and formally issued instead of manually corrected,” Martins said.
He also pointed out that the absence of the officer’s name and contact details raises accountability concerns.
