PATIALA: Ahead of summers, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is facing a challenge to supply the electricity meters to its new and existing consumers on demand. The PSPCL provides the electricity meters to its consumers for new connection and also replaces the meters that get damaged due to n number of reasons.
Sources revealed that the supply of the meters to the PSPCL faced a setback after two of three contractors had failed the inspection test following which the supply of meters got halted.
One of the private firms has also been fined for the delay in supplying the meters to PSPCL.
“We are witnessing a monthly demand of around 70,000 meters. Out of seven lakh meters supposed to be supplied to PSPCL by three private firms, only one lakh meters have been supplied. Two firms failed inspection tests. One of the firms that got purchase orders but couldn’t supply meters had now resumed the supply and was also imposed a fine according to the rules. Around 3 lakh single-phase conventional meters and three lakh smart meters are supposed to be supplied by the firms to PSPCL this year. The demand for the new connections witnesses a rise in Diwali season whereas the demand of meters for replacement of damaged meters is witnessed throughout the year. We are hopeful to meet the challenges”, said a PSPCL senior official on conditions of anonymity.
PSPCL chief engineer metering, R P S Randhawa said there was no shortage of meters at all. He refused to comment further.
Notably, last year, the PSPCL had faced a shortage of critical equipment and materials like transformers, cables, poles and had to face the wrath of the consumers in many villages during paddy season, as the power utility failed to replace the damaged materials and provide continuous power supply in the agriculture sector.
The power engineers’ body, last year, had informed PSPCL authorities about the power corporation facing acute material shortage due to failure of its timely purchase. The suggestions for improvement in PSPCL working, including procurement of materials in advance, were allegedly ignored.
In June last year, storms left poles, transformers and wires damaged and various zones of PSPCL had reported a loss of several crores. It took many days for PSPCL to repair and re-instate the power supply due to material shortage.
Sources revealed that the supply of the meters to the PSPCL faced a setback after two of three contractors had failed the inspection test following which the supply of meters got halted.
One of the private firms has also been fined for the delay in supplying the meters to PSPCL.
“We are witnessing a monthly demand of around 70,000 meters. Out of seven lakh meters supposed to be supplied to PSPCL by three private firms, only one lakh meters have been supplied. Two firms failed inspection tests. One of the firms that got purchase orders but couldn’t supply meters had now resumed the supply and was also imposed a fine according to the rules. Around 3 lakh single-phase conventional meters and three lakh smart meters are supposed to be supplied by the firms to PSPCL this year. The demand for the new connections witnesses a rise in Diwali season whereas the demand of meters for replacement of damaged meters is witnessed throughout the year. We are hopeful to meet the challenges”, said a PSPCL senior official on conditions of anonymity.
PSPCL chief engineer metering, R P S Randhawa said there was no shortage of meters at all. He refused to comment further.
Notably, last year, the PSPCL had faced a shortage of critical equipment and materials like transformers, cables, poles and had to face the wrath of the consumers in many villages during paddy season, as the power utility failed to replace the damaged materials and provide continuous power supply in the agriculture sector.
The power engineers’ body, last year, had informed PSPCL authorities about the power corporation facing acute material shortage due to failure of its timely purchase. The suggestions for improvement in PSPCL working, including procurement of materials in advance, were allegedly ignored.
In June last year, storms left poles, transformers and wires damaged and various zones of PSPCL had reported a loss of several crores. It took many days for PSPCL to repair and re-instate the power supply due to material shortage.