Household meters to go electronic

Mohammed Naalir

The present outdated electricity meters will shortly be replaced by electronic meters throughout the country, said Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne, yesterday.

This follows a survey conducted by a three member committee comprising members, Prof. Nalin Wickremaarachchi (Chairman), Dr. Narendra de Silva and Ceylon Electricity Board Deputy General Manager W.D.M. Xavier.

The report of the Committee was handed over to Minister Seneviratne yesterday by Committee Chairman Nalin Wickremaarachchi.

The Power and Energy Ministry together with the Lanka Electric Company Limited is to establish a factory to produce electronic electricity meters to cater to the needs of all customers, Minister Seneviratne said.

He said in addition tenders too have been called from the companies which are engaged in electronic equipment production.

Addressing the media at his ministry Minister Seneviratne said some of the electricity meters being used now are nearly 100 years old and are outdated.

Several countries including China and India have moved to electronic meter systems.

Seneviratne said the Government imports 300,000 metres every year. Nearly five million US dollars are being spent to import them every year. He expressed confidence the expenditure on electricity meters import could be minimised to a considerable level with the introduction of the new locally made electronic meter.

The Minister said 80,000 electricity meters are yet to be connected including damaged meters in households in Nuwara Eliya district and other areas including the North and East.

Committee Chairman Nalin Wickremaarachchi said the newly introduced electronic machine would provide error free readings while corruption and illegal connections could be minimised. The price of electronic meters would be less.