MSPDCL bats for smart prepaid meters
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2026: Smart Prepaid Meters offer significant benefits over the conventional prepaid meters and there is no difference in the consumption of power between the two, said MSPDCL officials today.

Briefing media persons at North AOC Secure Office Complex today, MSPDCL Executive Director (Commercial) Ayekpam Ibotomba said the installation of the smart meters in Imphal was launched following a notification of the Ministry of Power issued in August 2021 to replace all existing meters with Smart Prepaid Meters.

The smart meters are being installed under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), he added.

The smart prepaid meters offer numerous benefits to both consumers and the MSPDCL, he said.

In conventional prepaid meters, consumers have to physically check the meter to view consumption units, remaining balance, etc.

Additionally, the MSPDCL personnel are required to visit consumer premises to collect meter data.

However, with the smart prepaid meters, both consumers and MSPDCL can conveniently access meter data through a mobile application or web portal without physically accessing the meter.

This advancement has significantly improved energy accounting for MSPDCL, enhanced billing transparency, and enabled the generation of reports related to power theft, he said.

Furthermore, consumers can easily access information such as sanctioned load, tariff slabs, daily consumption, and receive notifications regarding low balance through the smart meter application on their smartphones or the web portal, he added.

The installation of the smart meters was carried out after comparing consumption with existing prepaid meters.

The results confirmed that there is no difference in consumption recorded by the two types of meters, he stressed.

In case any consumer suspects higher consumption in the smart prepaid meter, they can lodge a complaint with the MSPDCL, following which a check meter can be installed for verification, he said.

As per the Supply Code Regulations Amendment issued by JERC for Manipur & Mizoram in July 2022, automatic disconnection will occur if a consumer exceeds their sanctioned load.

This feature is not available in conventional prepaid meters, leading to revenue loss for the MSPDCL.

Consumers are allowed up to five instances of exceeding their sanctioned load.

Beyond this, the connection will be moved to a temporary disconnection state until the sanctioned load is upgraded.

Therefore, consumers are advised to revise their sanctioned load based on their actual electricity usage.

For every additional 1 kW increase in load, there will be an increase of Rs 65 per month in fixed charges, he said.

MSPDCL General Manager (Planning) Mangsatabam Chandramani also addressed the media, reiterating the benefits of the smart meters, reaffirming that there is no difference in the consumption of power between a conventional prepaid meter and a smart meter.

While the smart meters offer significant benefits, objections by some clubs and organisations as a result of misinformation has hindered installation of the smart meters in Imphal, he said.

The prepaid meter connection was launched in Manipur in 2012, and the operational life of a prepaid meter is generally 10 years, as cited by manufacturers.

The smart meters have been introduced to replace these ageing prepaid metres, he said.

He, however, added that the replaced prepaid meters (used meters from Imphal) which are still operational are being installed in areas of Thoubal and Bishnupur district for consumers who have no prepaid meter connections.

When asked why not just install the smart meters for the consumers in Thoubal and Bishnupur, Chandramani said Imphal East and Imphal West consume most energy in the whole of Manipur.

As such Imphal has been prioritised.

The use of smart meters in Imphal will curb energy theft, enhance billing transparency, improve energy accounting and cut revenue loss, he said.

Manipur has around 5.3 electric consumers including 4.95 lakh prepaid consumers.

Prepaid meters are also being installed in the hills, he added.

MSPDCL Smart Prepaid Polaris Project Manager Arambam Chingkheinganba said the installation of the smart meters started in September 2024 .

He said smart meters have been installed for more than 52,000 consumers, and surveys have been completed for installation of additional 80,000 meters.

Consumers may register grievances and complaints on Mobile Numbers 7640081231 and 764001238 or dial toll free number 0385-1912, he said.

Awareness regarding smart prepaid meter installation is being conducted in Imphal under campaigns such as "Sewa Prav" and "Smart Meter Pakhwada." Further initiatives are being planned to expand awareness, he said.

Various officials of the MSPDCL including Technical Executive Director Kamei and General Manager (Commercial) Ng Kirankumar Singh were present in the press meet.

Comment