PANAJI
The State government’s ambitious plan to install 7.5 lakh smart electricity meters across Goa has ignited a debate and concerns remain over whether the rollout will be made mandatory for consumers.
The Rs 890.11 crore project, largely funded by the Centre under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), is being pitched as a step toward modernizing power distribution and improving billing transparency.
A top engineer of the Electricity Department said the smart meters will eliminate manual readings, reduce theft, and provide real-time monitoring of electricity usage for consumers.
“The installation will be free of cost, with payments to the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) spread over 93 months”, the official said, adding that the rollout, which began with government consumers late last year, is expected to gradually cover households Statewide.
Yet, consumer groups and residents have voiced unease and many fear that mandatory installation could leave them without choice, raising questions about data privacy and billing accuracy.
Past experiences with digital systems have left some skeptical, worried about unexpected charges or errors. Others question whether the costs, though not directly billed to households, might eventually be recovered through higher tariffs.
Recently, a parliamentary panel urged the Ministry of Power to accelerate smart meter installation nationwide, while also stressing the need for consumer safeguards.
The Centre is targeting installing 25 crore smart meters, and Goa’s rollout is seen as a test case.
