Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version | Audio | Blogs
Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Dec 30, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version | Audio | Blogs |
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Industry & Economy
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Power States - Maharashtra Marketing - New Products & Services Now, electricity metering to go pre-paid in Maharashtra 
Rahul Wadke Mumbai, Dec. 29 After mobile phones, calling cards and rail reservation it's now the turn of the humble electricity supply function to go prepaid. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company has decided to introduce prepaid electricity meters for its consumers in the State. The company is targeting city residents having second homes in rural and semi-urban areas of the State, a floating student population and customers who are travel regularly as a result fail to pay the bill on time. Such customers will get five per cent rebate on their monthly usage, sources said. In some countries such as South Africa if the utility believes that the customer may not pay the bill, a prepaid meter is installed. This requires him/her to make an advance payment before using the electricity. If the available credit is exhausted then the supply is automatically cut off by a relay circuit. MSEDCL has approached the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission for getting the necessary regulatory clearances. It is also in the process of floating a tender for procuring the meters which can operate on a prepaid basis. Mr Ajoy Mehta, Managing Director of MSEDCL, confirmed that the company was considering introduction of prepaid meters for its customers in the State. However, he did not elaborate on the scheme as the matter is before the Regulatory Commission. Currently, some utility companies in West Bengal and the BEST Undertaking in Mumbai offer such meters but only during the Ganapati festival. In Mumbai, it is not widely used and it can be properly implemented only if there is a flat tariff, a senior BEST official told Business Line. More Stories on : Power | Maharashtra | New Products & Services
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