• Source:JND
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In a major decision, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) on Sunday announced that the electricity meters installed in the houses of customers will function as pre-paid meters in the upcoming months. The UPPCL stated that though the smart meters installed by the private companies are post-paid now, all of them will be changed to pre-paid. It added that the customers can recharge the meters according to their needs. 

The customers will be able to use the electricity as per their recharge plan. This system will be applicable to 94 lakh consumers of all 19 districts of the Madhyanchal region of three states, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhatisgarh.

The advisory stated that the time duration taken to convert the post-paid meters into pre-paid will be taken by the private firms to develop the system, which is user-friendly. It further stated that the smart meters will function on the basis of the telecom companies in which a user selects a plan based on their need.

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The smart meters have their own benefits, as they are expected to be more precise and accurate. However, the electrical engineers of the department have their share of doubts about the accessibility of these meters.

They suspect if the users, especially in the rural regions, will be able to use the meters effectively. They also said that private companies will be able to help the customers if the recharge facility is available at the electricity department counters. 

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Earlier, the UPPCL resolved legal issues to go ahead with the privatisation of Dakshinanchal and Purvanchal DISCOMs under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Board of Directors has authorised the formation of a new entity to facilitate the privatisation process.

With this development, the path is set for Cabinet approval of the privatisation draft or Request for Proposal (RFP). The tender process is expected to commence once the proposal is approved in the upcoming state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.