Overview
- The state government’s July 1 directive requires smart meters on all new electricity connections under national grid modernization guidelines.
- CESC officials postponed the mandate by 15 days following appeals at a consumer awareness meeting in Mysuru.
- Consumers and licensed contractors flagged the Rs. 10,000 price tag, larger meter size and incompatibility with existing switchboards.
- Stakeholders are pushing for phased pilot installations in government offices and industries alongside broader consumer education on maintenance and recharge processes.
- CESC’s GM of IT and MIS, Ramaswamy, underscored smart meters’ benefits of accurate billing, rapid fault detection, consumption tracking and enhanced transparency.