Nagaland: Pre-paid energy metering gains pace

Kohima and Dimapur selected for the first phase

Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 12

The pre-paid system of energy consumption is set to take off on a big scale in Nagaland. It would be a phased project with the Department of Power, Nagaland (DoPN), picking Kohima and Dimapur as the major start points. 

For a start, around 20,000 consumers in the two districts will have the existing (post-paid) energy meters replaced with prepaid. According to DoPN sources, the department has set a target of installing 9000 in Kohima and 10,000 in Dimapur. 

The exercise started in Kohima on October 26, and  the same has also begun in Dimapur. The Dimapur Electrical Division informed through a press release, today, that, alongwith the installation, sensitizing consumers on the “functionalities” of the prepaid system was also on. 

In the release, Executive Engineer of the Division, Imsenkaba stated that it is a programme of the Government of India under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) to address the problem of inaccurate billings, reducing AT&C (Aggregate Technical & Commercial) losses and affecting greater consumer benefit. 

“Gradually all conventional consumer meters in major towns of the State is expected to be replaced by prepaid meters in a phased manner,” it stated. It further informed that customers can contact 8837405015 or 7005502141 for any queries regarding this new programme.

The release did not mention the areas in Dimapur being targeted in the first phase. When queried on this, it was revealed that the department is targeting the commercial areas, including a few localities in the vicinity of commercial areas. New Market, Hazi Park, Hongkong Market, Golaghat Road were among the selected names, besides some residential neighbourhoods in and around the business hubs. 

It was added that Kuda village was also included in the first phase and the response from the consumers there was quite positive. The DoPN is targeting to complete the first phase by the end of the year. 

Dimapur Electrical Division has around 67-68,000 consumers grouped into different categories such as ‘Domestic’ and ‘Commercial.’ 

“The Government of India is targeting 100 percent prepaid energy metering. We are also pushing to meet the target in the state,” commented a DoPN official. 

While North-east states like Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura have already taken up prepaid metering on a big scale or completed already, Nagaland is only starting. DoPN officials often cite Manipur as a ‘prepaid energy’ success story, which Nagaland is also trying to emulate.  

Marwari Patti in Dimapur is the only place in Nagaland where the consumers have transitioned into prepaid meters since November 2013. It was implemented as a pilot project to test the efficacy of the prepaid system and has been regarded as a success with the area covered returning 40 percent loss reduction.