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Govt to allow import of smart prepaid meters

For gas and electricity users


Bangladeshpost
Published : 27 Dec 2019 08:45 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 08:49 PM

The Power Division has decided to allow import of smart pre-paid meters for electricity and gas by interested entrepreneurs. The decision also said that they can set up factories to manufacture the meters across the country for commercial sale. The concern people said now mass people will be benefited due to the competition among enterprises. Ultimately, the user can buy his smart meter comparing the prices of the best quality of the products.

Currently, two state-owned companies, - West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited and Rural Power Company Limited - manufacture smart electric pre-paid meter in different factories. However, none of the companies manufacture pre-paid gas meter.

Such decision of free import of gas and electric meters comes following a recent initiative by the Ministry concerned to introduce smart prepaid meter for gas and electricity to all users across the country aimed at ensuring simpler bill payment with hundred percent collection, electricity and gas savings and to improve service of customers. All these are aimed at preventing system loss, corruption and overload.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid said, ‘Earlier, we had opened for private entrepreneurs to import and manufacturing of smart electric prepaid meter. Now we have given them similar permission for smart gas meters.’ “The smart meter is affordable and safer. The users and government both will be benefited. Besides it also reduces loss and pilferage,” he added.

At present, a user of double gas burner now pays Tk 975 per month but pre-paid users pay Tk 400-450 on average. As a result, a user can save on average 50-60% per month. However, it was alleged that, some of electricity users are suffering due to the use of smart prepaid meter. They have to pay more electricity bills than before.

Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, Senior Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division said, ‘We urge entrepreneurs to import and manufacture smart pre-paid meter. The gas users will buy the meter from open meter. The meter will be examined in lab for approval on submission to the authority before connecting the meter.’

An energy division official said, ‘Whoever manufactures a meter the product (meter) must be sent submitted to the authority concerned for safety and proper functional tests before getting a clearance certificate.’ At present, there are 43 lakh gas users in the country. Of these, the distribution companies installed only 3 lakh prepaid meters from 2005 till 2019. On the other hand, the country’s total electricity users are more than 3.5 crore. The users are being increasing day by day.