The Union Power Ministry has sought more details from Kerala regarding its alternate proposal for a more consumer-friendly roll-out of smart electricity meters, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty said on November 16, 2023.
In a November 8, 2023 letter, Union Power Minister R.K. Singh asked Mr. Krishnankutty to ask the officers concerned to submit the State’s proposal in detail to the Union Ministry “so that it can be examined from all aspects, including extant guidelines of the scheme.”
In August 2023, Kerala decided not to implement the smart meter project on TOTEX (total expenditure) model on the grounds that it entails additional financial burden for the consumers. The move to adopt the TOTEX model had drawn strong criticism from the power sector unions in Kerala.