A Pre-paid Electricity Meter ?

In an interview with Economic Times ( 15 May ) , Minister for Power / Renewable Energy , Shri Piyush Goyalji says :

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“ UPA has been a sad example as during its tenure , people used to receive high power bills all of a sudden .

In some cases, the poor will not receive bills for months together and one day , he will receive a bill for last two years

Then he is harassed to pay up

We are talking to all the States that they have to ensure monthly bills , so people don’t get a shock

If there is a default, then action can be taken on a monthly due amount  “

As compared to those old days , of course , things are much better now

In case of many DISCOMS , people can make an Online Payment from their web sites

I believe , some of these DISCOMS have even launched their own AEPS mobile wallets / apps , using which , power consumers can make payments against their monthly bills

But , how about a Prepaid Electricity Meter , with following features / functionality ?

·         It will be a Tablet look-alike device

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·         It will show daily – weekly – monthly , power consumption of the premises

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·         It will show the “ average / highest / lowest “ monthly consumption

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·         It will also show how many UNITS remain to his BALANCE , at any given time

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·         It will show a GRAPH comparing consumptions during any two “ periods “

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·         It will have facility to enter ( type in ) , customer’s Aadhar Number ( of course, linked to his Bank Account Number )

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·         After login ( using biometric identification of Finger + Iris + Voice ) , customer can “ Re-charge “ his “ Account “ with ( say ) , Rs 1,000 / - at the beginning, using the built-in Virtual Keyboard ( Device will have built-in camera )

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·         When the “ balance “ to his credit falls to ( say ) Rs 100 / - , an alarm will ring and he will also get Email / SMS / WhatsApp reminder

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·         If he fails to “ Re-Charge “ his account , power will get disconnected upon the balance falling to Rs 10/-  !

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·         Power will start flowing again as soon as consumer “ re-charges “ through device

None of this ( hardware + software + wireless telecom ) , is a Rocket Science !

Any Start Up can come up with such a total , end-to-end , solution within 6 months !

Only thing , this device cannot stop is UN-METERED THEFT of power , where wires get pulled from a power-line , bypassing the meter !

Other than this one limitation , this suggestion has the potential to dramatically improve the Financial Positions of the State DISCOMS !

Dear Shri Goyalji ,

Would you like to pose this challenge to our Start Ups ?

19  May  2017

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