Haryana discoms to do away with manual meter reading

Common meter reading instruments to be introduced in a phased manner

Power distribution companies in Haryana -Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam - plan to do away with the manual meter reading in a phased manner, and the reading of meters would be done through Common Meter Reading Instrument (CMRI).

This was revealed by Anurag Agarwal, managing director, in a meeting of senior officers of DHBVN called by him to review the services provided to consumers here on Friday. Agarwal said manual meter reading and billing were the major sources of revenue leakage. Measures would be taken to completely eliminate manual intervention in meter reading.

He said after the introduction of automatic meter reading, billing and regular data analysis, there would be no human intervention and it would be possible to have a close watch on the electricity consumption. It would also ensure accurate billing.

For consumers above 10-Kw of connected load, automatic meter reading (AMR) has been initiated. For the other consumers below 10-Kw load, meters with optical port, facilitating reading through CMRI, are being procured so as to eliminate manual meter reading and plug revenue leakage. Remote reading through data concentrator units is also being planned.

Agarwal directed the officers to start the campaign to replace defective meters in a phased manner. He said that for the purpose of introducing the system of AMR, meters with modem facility would be installed at the premises of all consumers, other than agriculture consumers having 10 Kw or more load. He asked the officers to ensure that all distribution transformers are provided with downloadable meters. He also directed the officers to ensure that there is no fault in any feeder meter.