No faulty smart meter in Silchar, claims Assam Power Distribution Company Limited

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Amid much ado about increased electricity bills for the last couple of months, Silchar Electrical Division of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) strongly claimed that the smart metres are absolutely flawless. Their argument is simple and clear as Arup Paul, assistant general manager of the division clarified that out of total of 1,81,998 consumers, 53,348 smart metres had been installed so far since 2021 in Silchar sub division and no complaint had been registered till now from any consumer. Rather, maximum complaints the division had been receiving were from the consumers who had digital metres in their households, Paul argued further.

Increased electricity bills had generated much heat in the entire State. Even in just concluded autumn session of Assembly saw a heated debate. However Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had clarified that the government had not hiked the electricity tariff and the excess billing might be a result of faulty readings recorded in the smartphone. On Sunday, chairman of State Electricity Regulatory Commission Sanjay Krishna in a tweet echoed the same as he clarified that since March 2022, there had been no hike in tariff and hence the excessive bills had no link with the tariff.

However, APDCL had other story to tell. As Arup Paul argued that electricity consumption in last two months had increased a lot due to hot weather. Gadgets like refrigerator, air conditioners, electric fans had been hugely used in every household which resulted in a rise in electricity bills naturally. Paul however admitted that they had been receiving some complaints though none of the consumers have smart meters.

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