PANAJI
Goa’s Chief Electrical Engineer, Stephen Fernandes, described the smart electricity meter initiative as ‘transparent, beneficial and the need of the hour,’ while reaffirming the Goa Electricity Department’s commitment to completing the exercise by August 2027, despite political opposition and public concerns.
During the public hearing conducted by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), Fernandes stressed that smart meters will not alter the basic method of recording electricity consumption, as Goa already uses electronic meters.
Instead, they will provide consumers with accurate insights into usage patterns, voltage levels, and billing, while enabling the department to collect precise data, he said.
“Smart metering will not change consumption recording. It will only improve efficiency and enhance transparency,” he said, dismissing claims that tariffs would rise or consumption would be misreported as “completely false.”
So far, 1,020 feeders of the department are already fitted with smart meters and work is in progress to fit these meters for 9,000 transformer centres. The department has also taken up smart metering work on 5,800 government buildings, he said.
The Rs 890.11 crore smart metering project, covering 7.5 lakh consumers is being funded under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) of the Centre.
The project is being implemented under the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) model, with payments spread over 93 months rather than upfront capital expenditure.
The rollout, officials said, represents a major step toward efficiency, transparency, and service delivery in Goa’s electricity distribution system.
500 kW solar net-metering cap to stay: CEE
PANAJI: Chief Electrical Engineer Stephen Fernandes has opposed demands from industry representatives to raise the current 500-kilowatt cap on solar power net metering in Goa, citing concerns over grid stability and surplus generation.
Fernandes said that removing the restriction would result in large volumes of solar energy being pumped into the grid during daylight hours, when demand is typically low and supply already exceeds requirements. “If the limit is lifted, solar energy will flood the grid at a time when it is not needed, creating technical challenges for stability,” he cautioned.
Fernandes maintained that the cap is necessary to balance generation with demand and to safeguard the reliability of the power system.
