Install smart meters and get 20 percent cheaper electricity: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that electricity is everyone’s need. Providing electricity to everyone as per their need is the top priority of the government. Electricity should be available at affordable rates. He said that the smart meter model is the best, so in the interest of electricity consumers, smart meters should be installed in everyone’s homes. This will provide electricity to consumers at 20 percent cheaper rates. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav was addressing the review meeting of the Energy Department’s work at Samatva Bhavan in the Chief Minister’s residence on Wednesday. Referring to the benefits that consumers get from installing smart meters, the Chief Minister said that in this, the consumer also gets the facility to minimize the amount of his electricity bill by assessing his own consumption and using energy as per his convenience. He directed the officials of the Energy Department to further speed up the installation of smart meters. It was told that 1.34 crore domestic smart meters are to be installed in the state. Against the target, more than 21 lakh domestic smart meters have been installed so far. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, while discussing the power disruptions that took place in various places in May-June, said that maintenance activities should be carried out throughout the year to ensure uninterrupted power supply to electricity consumers, so that power supply is not disrupted due to storm, water or any other incident. He said that new measures should be taken with a new approach in maintenance activities. New equipment should be purchased. Where there are dense trees, get the power cables passing under them coated. Minimize power/line losses and seriously implement all methods of energy saving. Motivate electricity consumers to use solar energy. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that whether it is domestic or industrial, the use of electricity is increasing everywhere. Therefore, domestic and industrial institutions should be encouraged to use solar power. With this, the consumer will be able to generate his own electricity and also sell the excess electricity. He said that electricity use in the agricultural sector should also be shifted to pumps run by solar power. The Chief Minister said that a departmental policy should be prepared for the establishment of transformer repairing units in all the needy districts of the state. He said that the Energy and Renewable Energy Departments should work together to provide maximum benefits to electricity consumers.

Bring power companies to a profitable position in two years Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in order to bring all the three power distribution companies to a profitable position in the next two years, power companies should try to increase their sources of income. Use new technology, innovate, so that the company as well as the consumers get benefited. Ensure adequate power supply in Rabi season Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that ensure availability of adequate electricity for Rabi 2025-26. Start preparations for this from now itself. It was told in the meeting that about 20200 MW of electricity demand is expected in Rabi season. Last year this demand was 18 thousand 913 MW.

One Time Settlement Scheme Energy Minister Shri Pradyuman Singh Tomar said that a one-time settlement scheme is being started by the department to settle the outstanding amount of electricity bill. All categories of consumers, including domestic, industrial and commercial, have been given the facility to deposit the outstanding amount by waiving the surcharge on their basic electricity bill amount. This scheme will be implemented for a period of six months. The electricity connection of consumers who do not pay their electricity bills even after this period will be disconnected. He also discussed about the new setup of electricity distribution companies. Shri Tomar expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for approving various proposals of the Energy Department.

Additional Chief Secretary Energy Mr. Mandloi informed that compared to other states, Madhya Pradesh ranks first in the country in major energy indices (storage efficiency). 97.92 percent storage capacity has been achieved in the state. He informed that the department has set its targets for the current financial year as well as the next three years. He informed that the Energy Department is striving to reduce the electricity rate tariff by the year 2026-27. He informed that during this period, the department is striving for the target of reducing bill efficiency to 90 percent, storage efficiency to 99 percent and AT&C loss to 14 percent.

Target of electrifying 100 percent families in PM Jan-Mann In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Energy informed that the department has set a target of 100 percent electrification of the houses of 29 thousand 290 families of Special Backward Tribal Group (PVTG) in the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM Jan-Mann). So far in the current financial year, houses of more than 21 thousand PVTG families have been electrified. He informed that in the Dharti Aba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, the department plans to electrify 100 percent of the houses of 55 thousand 795 families of the Scheduled Tribe category of the state. This target will be achieved in this financial year itself.

One electric police station will be opened in each of the six metropolitan cities of the state. The Additional Chief Secretary informed that energy police structure will be established in the state. In the first phase, one (total six) special electric police station will be established in each of the six metropolitan cities of the state. In the coming years, these police stations will be established in all the district headquarters. These police stations will provide security to the checking squads during the checking campaign. They will conduct surprise inspections and will also prepare case diaries. FIR will be registered against the accused under the Electricity Act and will also observe the court proceedings so that action will be taken under the Dues Recovery Act for the protection of the property of the Discom and recovery of the outstanding amount. He informed that physical verification of use of electricity in agriculture sector will also be done; for this the distribution companies have been directed. Pre-paid meters will be installed in government offices. It was informed in the meeting that work of installing pre-paid meters in government offices will start from August 15. Due to this there will be no problem of pending electricity bills in government offices. Chief Secretary Mr. Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary of Chief Minister’s Office Dr. Rajesh Rajoura, Additional Chief Secretary New & Renewable Energy Mr. Manu Shrivastava, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Mr. Manish Rastogi, Managing Director MP Energy Development Corporation, CMDs of all three Power Distribution Companies Ltd. and other senior departmental officers were present in the meeting.