Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

Rajasthan
COMMERCIAL
The progress of metering in respect of the agricultural category of consumers is given
below:
Metering of Agricultural Services (%)
1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99
1999-
2000
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04
29.2 30.1 31.56 32.22 35.3 36.54 51.06 53.27 61.32
COMMENTS
Rajasthan’s performance on this front has always been impressive. Even during the
pre-restructuring period, all the categories except agriculture had 100 per cent
metering. That trend continuous even now.
In the pre-restructuring period, Rajasthan was amongst the first States in the
country to introduce electronic meters in a big way even for domestic consumers.
A lot of meter-related thefts, with or without collusion of the staff, could be controlled
through the introduction of the electronic meters. The T&D losses were substantially
reduced wherever such meters were installed. During the pre-restructuring period,
there was a high incidence of electricity theft amongst the industrial consumers also.
In a single year, all electro mechanical meters of the HT consumers were replaced by
sophisticated static meters, which ensure that even if there was any manipulation
during the previous 45 days, it would get recorded in the memory of the meter.
Installation of such meters led to a drastic reduction of electricity theft in industrial
units. For the last several years, only electronic meters have been purchased by RSEB
and later by the DISCOMs.
The emphasis on tamper-proof and reliable meters has continued during the postrestructuring
period also. In the agricultural sector, 100 per cent metering has not yet
been achieved although the percentage of meters for agricultural consumers is
increasing year after year. In the agricultural sector, by 2003-04, only 61 per cent
metering has been achieved but reckless metering of agricultural connections in
isolation is no solution. In the past, a large number of agricultural consumers have
not allowed the meters to function properly. Consequently, the revenue from the flat
rate consumers was almost double that of the metered consumers. Mere symbolic
installation of meters for agricultural consumers is not enough. The entire chain
needs to be reviewed. So long as non-operational meters are a paying proposition
to such consumers, they would not allow the meters to run. The Regulatory
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