Electricity Department Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) Stephan Fernandes has announced that around Rs 43 crore collected as penalty charges from consumers will be credited back, following mounting public opposition to the Smart Meter Project and a protest held outside Vidyut Bhavan in Panaji.
The protest was led by former GPCC leader Amit Patkar along with Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira and several concerned citizens on Wednesday, who demanded a formal government notification scrapping the Smart Meter Project. Protesters argued that verbal assurances were insufficient and insisted on an official order ending the rollout.
Addressing the media after meeting the delegation, Chief Electrical Engineer Stephan Fernandes said that consumers would receive refunds of the penalty amounts collected by the department. “About 80% of smart meters have been installed in Panaji, while the remaining 20% are on feeders, department connections and new consumer connections. Around Rs 43 crore collected as penalties will be credited back to consumers. Increased electricity bills have nothing to do with smart meters, and consumer load upgrades will be carried out automatically by the department as required,” Fernandes said.
He further clarified that all installed smart meters are currently operating in post-paid mode and not on a prepaid basis. According to Fernandes, a formal notification regarding the refund of penalties is expected to be issued shortly.
Fernandes also confirmed that the rollout of smart meters has been temporarily put on hold. He stated that the department had procured one lakh smart meters and handed them over to vendors for installation, of which approximately 43,000 meters have already been installed across Goa.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer Kashinath Shetye informed the Human Rights Commission that the department has submitted its reply and legal arguments in connection with the smart meter case. The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing on July 15.
Shetye maintained that the Smart Meter Project forms part of a central government policy and cannot be scrapped outright, noting that similar systems have already been implemented across the country.
