Pune: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has conducted around 200 awareness camps across Pune city and interacted with nearly 40,000 consumers to improve acceptance of smart meters. The initiative comes amid opposition from some consumers over the installation of smart, or time-of-day, meters.“MSEDCL has formed teams comprising two engineers and three other staff members to visit large residential complexes and educate residents about the benefits of smart meters,” said Sunil Kakade, chief engineer, MSEDCL Pune.The utility has also deployed vans equipped with visual display screens to spread awareness at public places.The power utility, however, still has significant ground to cover.MSEDCL has installed 14.13 lakh smart meters across the Pune zone, which includes all talukas except Baramati. Of these, 5.3 lakh have been installed in the Ganeshkhind division, 5.2 lakh in the Rasta Peth division and 3.6 lakh in the Pune Rural division, according to an official statement.MSEDCL has appealed to the public to support the installation of smart meters and cooperate with its staff during the process. It has faced resistance from consumers over concerns about higher electricity bills and inadequate prior intimation before meter replacement. It began installing smart meters two years ago as part of a drive to replace old and faulty meters.“Smart meters are a crucial step toward enhancing consumer convenience and strengthening the electricity distribution system. The administration urges consumers not to believe rumours circulating on social media and to cooperate with MSEDCL. Residents are encouraged to seek clarifications from the visiting teams regarding any doubts and support them by embracing this modern technology,” an MSEDCL spokesperson said.According to MSEDCL, smart meters offer several benefits, including discounted tariffs during solar hours, accurate billing and greater control over electricity consumption. Consumers receive a discount of 85 paise per unit for electricity consumed between 9am and 5pm. As meter readings are recorded digitally without human intervention, the possibility of incorrect or estimated bills is eliminated.Consumers can also monitor their daily and hourly electricity consumption through a mobile app, enabling them to plan energy savings more effectively. In addition, smart meters instantly alert MSEDCL to technical faults or power supply disruptions, allowing quicker response and repairs.
