THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to install electricity smart meters without causing harm to common people. The possibility of implementing the project at a lower cost than that proposed by the Centre will be examined. The meeting also suggested to avoid TOTEX model.

The TOTEX model includes the cost of the smart meter, head end system, meter data management, communication system, cloud storage charges, other software testing and cyber security charges and operation and maintenance charges for 93 months. The central government scheme envisages that the amount spent for this will be collected from the consumers in 93 monthly instalments. The implementation of this model of entrusting maintenance and operation to the agency for a fixed period of time was opposed by the labour unions in the state.

In the new system, the software for billing and related services will be developed by KSEB itself. With the arrival of K-FON, information will be exchanged using the fiber optic cable provided free of charge to KSEB. Data storage can also be done using KSEB data center. The KSEB staff will do the work of replacing the old meter and installing a smart meter.

Not all existing customers of KSEB will be fitted with smart meters. As a first phase, the system will be introduced for industrial and commercial users. Less than three lakh people will be part of this system. The chief minister also said that the chief secretary should discuss with the departmental secretaries whether the arrears due to KSEB from government institutions and public sector institutions can be paid by December this year.

The Chief Minister suggested that load shedding should be avoided. The Chief Minister also said that considering that it will not be possible to generate the necessary electricity from hydropower projects in Kerala alone, a plan should be prepared to bring in electricity. Power Minister K Krishnankutty, Finance Minister KN Balagopal, Additional Chief Secretary KR Jyothilal, KSEB Chairman Rajan Khobragade, Principal Secretary Finance Rabindra Kumar Aggarwal and others spoke in the meeting.