UT called to expedite Smart Grid pilot project

In a recently released electricity tariff petition order, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) requested that the UT administration speed the smart grid pilot project and submit the status report to the commission within one month. The UT power department reported that the city did not use the monthly billing system because of a severe staffing shortage and software upgrading. JERC had instructed the UT electrical department to switch from a bimonthly billing method to a monthly billing system in 2019 and once more in 2020. The department claimed in its power tariff appeal that there is a staffing deficit and that software modification is also necessary to switch from a biweekly billing system to a monthly billing system. As per reports, UT's submitted scope of work includes ongoing installation of smart meters under the National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM), which will help for monthly billing of all categories of consumers.Also read: BSES plans to install 5-mn smart meters at Rs 4k cr in NCR IIT Madras partners with INAE and ARCI to organise NCET-2022