Smart meter project slow, Haryana power regulator summons officials of consultant, discoms

Taking note of the slow implementation of the smart meter project by the two state-run electricity distribution companies (discoms) and the consultant, the Haryana Electricity Regulator Commission has summoned the managing director of the consultant company and top officials of the discoms.

The summons were issued during a virtual hearing by HERC quorum headed by chairperson R K Panchnanda and member Naresh Sardana on Friday afternoon. With a target to install 10 lakh smart meters, the project was launched by UHBVN and DHBVN. UHBVN had picked up Panchkula, Karnal and Panipat, while DHNVN had picked up Gurgaon district.

So far, only 2.5 lakh such meters have been installed, against the 10-lakh target fixed in 2018. The project is supposed to be completed by the end of this year.

According to reports submitted before commission for June and July, only 7,137 smart meters were installed in June, against the target of 45,500, and 7,531 were installed in May, against the target of 24,000.

“At such a snail’s pace, it would take years to complete the projects. As per initial timelines, projects were to be completed in 2021,” the commssion observed in an interim order.