New Delhi   

Time-of-day metering in Delhi soon

NEW DELHI: Even as the Delhi Government’s Power Department is all set to introduce time-of-day (ToD) metering in the city, residents’ welfare associations anticipating a steep increase in electricity charges have sharply criticised the move.

Delhi, which will become the first State in the country to have ToD in the residential sector, will encourage consumers to shift consumption of power from peak to off-peak hours. The incentive to do so will be cheaper rates for power consumed during off-peak hours.

After implementation of ToD metering, there will be different tariff slabs for peak hours, off-peak hours and normal time of the day. Consumers using electricity during peak hours, 6-30 p.m. to 10-30 p.m. will have to pay as much as Rs.6.40 per unit, while off-peak hours, 10-30 p.m. to 6-30 a.m., would have them pay as low as Rs.1.60 per unit.

“We have already had a meeting with the discoms and they have agreed to change the meters to make them compliant with the ToD system. We have been regularly meeting RWAs to explain the concept of ToD metering to them and the response has been good. The Department is now looking forward to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s approval,” said a senior Power Department official.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Centre of Delhi Transco Limited had launched the Delhi Energy Efficiency Programme (DEEP) in association with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in May this year to study the consumption pattern in the domestic sector so that a scheme for implementation of ToD system could be introduced.

The metering, which will be started as a pilot project in three localities in the city, has, however, drawn severe all-round criticism from the RWAs, who have sought a meeting with the DERC on the issue.“If this proposal is accepted, electricity bills will shoot up by 20 per cent on an average,” said M.K. Choudhary, a former official of Delhi Transco.

He further added: “Remember that the electronic meters are configured to record minute power usage — so at peak times, using even your mobile charger will yield higher readings.”Pointing out that ToD is a mechanism designed for industry and not retail customers, Sanjay Kaul president of People’s Action said: “A factory owner can start a third shift starting midnight if he saves substantially on power rates, but it is very unlikely that a family will stop using appliances of necessity or start having a bath at 4 a.m. just because power is cheaper and they can save on the geyser. The result will be, as we can all imagine, that power bills will shoot up further.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Apex court pulls up EC
Meet on agribusiness
Make Delhi a world-class city, says Sheila
Kite-flying causes power cuts in city
Winners of police medal
Fight forces of disruption: DPCC
Wheel-chairs distributed
Independence Day illuminations
Another attempt to loot power consumers, says BJP
Not covered by court ruling: cancer institute
Court notice to State on Bluelines
Severe water crisis at Delhi Zoo
Time-of-day metering in Delhi soon
25 prisoners freed
Revelry turns tragic for 4 boys
Another tryst with destiny
Held for alleged murder of minor girl
High Court summons NCB Chief
Inside Delhi
Moments of joy and pride
Two women commit suicide
A new twist in designer case
YMCA award

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu