Power board holds public meet in Manali, highlights consumer benefits of smart meters
Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) organised a Kullu Circle-level quarterly public representatives awareness meeting under its Public Interaction Programme in Manali today. The meeting brought together elected representatives, electricity consumers and HPSEBL officials to deliberate on key issues concerning consumer interests and electricity supply management in the region.
Several consumer-centric decisions and initiatives were discussed at the tri-monthly meeting. A consensus emerged on the need to make electricity consumers aware regarding power supply-related information. Officials said that better-informed consumers not only become more self-reliant but also contribute to improved information management, ultimately benefiting the board’s operational efficiency and service delivery.
HPSEBL Adviser Anurag Prashar said that access to essential information related to electricity supply was important for consumers to receive efficient and quality power services. He highlighted the importance of electricity conservation, accurate declaration of power load and strict adherence to safety norms while using electrical installations. Prashar encouraged consumers to take advantage of the rooftop solar scheme, noting its potential to provide long-term benefits to households and reduce dependence on conventional power sources.
He said that smart meters were being installed in the region purely in the interest of the consumers, to enable transparent billing, better monitoring of consumption and improved service reliability. Prashar also shared precautionary measures to be followed during lightning and adverse weather conditions to ensure public safety.
Prashar told the participants that consumers could register complaints or seek information related to electricity supply at any time on the toll-free numbers 1912 or 1800-180-8060. He also urged the HPSEBL field staff to strictly use safety equipment such as helmets and protective gear while on duty. Additionally, he added that the board maintained an active presence on social media, including its official Facebook page, to disseminate timely information.
The stakeholders raised concerns regarding consumer facilities and urged the board to simplify the procedure for increasing sanctioned electrical load, terming the existing process overly complex. Meanwhile, former Haripur panchayat president KR Thakur said that, in the long run, smart meters would prove beneficial for electricity consumers.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by the HPSEBL to strengthen consumer engagement, transparency and service quality in Kullu district.
