Smart meters have been installed in the houses of MD and Director of Kesco in UP Electricity Kanpur. Now smart meters will be installed in the houses of 1400 employees by 31 March. The salary of employees who do not get smart meters installed will be stopped. Vijay Tripathi, President of Kesco Joint Employees Organization has started a protest against the installation of smart meters.
Electricity Smart Meters: Smart meters have been installed in the houses of Kesco MD and Director. With this, now the campaign to install smart meters in the houses of 1400 employees of Kesco has started by March 31. In the next 20 days, Kesco will send a report to the government along with installing smart meters in the houses of all engineers and employees. Kesco MD said that the salary of employees and engineers who do not get smart meters installed will be stopped.
Kesco Joint Employees Organization President Vijay Tripathi has started a protest regarding the installation of smart meters. He said that the benefit of fixed charge is being given to the employees as per the departmental service conditions. A government order was issued in this regard, in which Kesco employees got the facility of fixed charge just like railways, roadways. With the installation of smart meters, they will have to pay electricity bill. Employees will oppose the installation of meters in their homes.
Unlimited electricity was available on fixed charge
Till now, Kesco officers, employees and engineers used to get unlimited electricity on fixed charge, but now after installing smart meters, Kesco will keep track of everyone’s electricity expenses. Kesco is installing smart meters under the AMISPP (Advanced Metering Infrastructure Provider) scheme with a budget of Rs 582 crore.
After March 31, the work of installing 4G postpaid smart meters will start in all government offices. Till now, third and fourth class employees of Kesco consume unlimited electricity by paying only Rs 417 per month. Whereas from the superintending engineer to the junior engineer, they take advantage of electricity expenses by paying a fixed charge of Rs 890 to Rs 1560. Along with this, only Rs 650 has to be paid per month for installing AC in the house. Now the account of electricity consumed in the houses of Kesco employees will be kept.
Details of fixed charge according to the post of electricity expenditure
| Post | Fixed Charge |
|---|---|
| Chief Engineer | 1766 |
| Superintending Engineer | 1560 |
| Executive Engineer | 1137 |
| Assistant Engineer | 1057 |
| junior engineer | 890 |
| Babu, Lineman, SSO | 524 |
| class 4 employee | 417 |
Managing Director, KESCO, Samuel Pan N said
The target is to install smart meters in the homes of seven lakh consumers in the city by the year 2027. Along with this, smart meters will be installed in the homes of all Kesco officers, engineers and employees by March 31. Electricity workers will get the benefit of the services, but data of how much electricity is being consumed in the house will also be kept.
