PANAJI: Advocacy group ‘Citizens for Democracy, Goa’ has petitioned the Electricity Department opposing ‘forceful installation’ of smart digital meters in homes across the state. The group, in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes, raised concerns over privacy, data security, billing transparency, and lack of public consultation while demanding that the exercise should be based on consent and not compulsion.
Addressing the media after submitting the memorandum today, the group members clarified that while they are not against technology, the smart meter system must not be imposed on unwilling citizens. They insisted that the government first sensitise the public and address concerns before moving ahead with large-scale implementation. “We have no issue if people voluntarily want smart meters. But do not force those who do not want them,” Retd IAS officer and one of the members of the group, Elvis Gomes, said.
He apprehended that the proposed meters would contain a chip that directly communicates with a central control system, enabling two-way communication, hence losing privacy.
“They can monitor how much time and energy is being used and how much tariff is applied. Real-time data will be shared,” he said. Raising privacy concerns, Gomes added, “If we are not at home, there will be no energy consumption. That data will be recorded in the system. This can put my house at risk. Who is responsible if such data is leaked? We need data privacy.”
Amar Gaonkar, another member, referred to Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and a nine-judge Supreme Court judgment saying that privacy is a fundamental right. “When someone collects real-time data about our homes, it hampers our privacy. Later, if something happens, we will have to file an FIR. This is our concern,” he said.
Members further claimed that several Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed in different states regarding smart meters. In Mumbai, a consumer allegedly received a bill of Rs 72,000, and the supply was disconnected. “He was told to first pay the bill, and then the complaint would be considered. Later, the bill was reduced to Rs 24,000. This shows that smart meters are no longer smart,” Gaonkar alleged.
