Srinagar, July: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) Wednesday said that the electricity consumers with smart meters were involved in power theft and subsequently were seeking electricity round the clock.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mussarat Zia while addressing a presser stated that the promises of 24*7 electricity was not possible till the illegal hooking and other related issues of power theft are put to an end.
“In metered areas, consumers who seek the 24*7 electricity are involved in illegal hooking,” he said.
Zia further said that the tariff slabs in the ongoing fiscal were unchanged and currently the DISCOM was not revising any rates.
About the installation of smart meters, the KPDCL MD said that it was the best tool for maintaining transparency.
Zia during the presser informed the reporters that domestic consumers were the major defaulters in paying the electricity dues.
“We are targeting to install 3.39 lakh smart meters under the RDSS scheme.” “In next 27 months under RDSS we will make Kashmir a smart metered region,” he said.
Responding to the questions regarding pending electricity dues of government departments, KPDCL MD said that it was receiving the pending dues in the last two quarters.
During the presser, KPDCL said, “In 22-23 there were nearly Rs 400 crores that were lying pending with the government, however, in the year 23-24 more than Rs 750 crores were paid.”
