Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday directed the equal distribution of smart meters in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).

The decision comes the day STATE TIMES reported that only 35,000 meters are being installed in the Kashmir Division against 80,000 in the Jammu Division.

Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Rohit Kansal had on May 27, 2020, informed at a meeting …that out of 1.15 lakh meters, 80,000 would be installed in Jammu Division and 35,000 in Kashmir Division, while the installation would be carried out in a phased manner.”

The Principal Secretary Power Development Department, according to a handout, has urged on Wednesday the Distribution Companies (DISCOMS) viz. JPDCL and KPDCL at a meeting to take advantage of the Special Economic & Comprehensive Package for them provided under the Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan.

The scheme provides for liquidity infusion of Rs. 90,000 crore to DISCOMs for discharging liabilities of DISCOMs towards power generating companies and to tide over the financial crises arising due to Covid-19. He was reviewing the status of various pending issues and ongoing schemes of the department via online mode.
Managing Director, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation, Director Finance JKPDD, Secretary Technical JKPDD, and Chief Engineer, Trading, J&K Power Corporation Ltd. participated in the meeting.

The meeting was informed that poor consumer metering in the UT of J&K is one of the main reasons for huge AT&C losses which are of the order of 48% against the national average of 18.6%. The UT has a consumer base of around 21 lakh, out of which metered consumers are 50% only. The percentage of consumers with compliant metering is still lower. The unmetered consumers are being billed on a fixed flat rate basis. This had resulted in large accumulated power bills and adversely affected the state of power finances in the UT. However, the One Time liquidity infusion and the comprehensive package would help resolve many of the long-pending financial problems of the DISCOMS.

The meeting was also informed that under PMDP a project for installation of 1 lakh smart meters each in Jammu and Srinagar cities (total 2 lakh meters in J&K) is currently under implementation and the Project Implementing Agency, RECPDCL has already been able to procure 1.15 lakh meters till date. The Principal Secretary directed that the available meters be distributed equally between the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. Besides, the requirement of funds for remaining 85000 meters be taken up with the Ministry of Power, Govt of India so that the target of 1 lakh meters for each city i.e. Jammu and Srinagar could be achieved. The field installation of meters is scheduled to commence from July 2020.

The Principal Secretary also reviewed the issues related to the Annual Maintenance of IT assets owned by Distribution Corporations. He issued instructions to Managing Directors of Distribution Corporations to come up with a comprehensive proposal before the Board of Directors for annual maintenance so that contract for the same is awarded and customer-friendly billing could be ensured. He also issued instructions for improving the call centers and helplines of the DISCOMS so that all complaints could be easily accessed.

He directed the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation to pay special attention to power availability, transformer damage and repair cycles, functioning of district complaint centers and quick redressal of all public grievances in view of the rising temperatures and summer months.