Towards streamlining power supply in Ukhrul town, Manipur State Power Distribution Limited (MSPDCL) Ukhrul Division is confident of covering all the existing power consumers of the township under the prepaid power connection by the end of the current year.
According to an official source from MSPDCL Ukhrul Division, the department is expecting arrival of the requisite materials for installation of prepaid power connection for all the existing registered power consumers of the town in the next few months and is hopeful of completion of the installation works by December.
It may be recalled that the Division started installation work of prepaid power metres and cables at homes of all existing power consumers across the township back in 2016 and has covered around 80 per cent of the consumers so far.
It had earlier set a target of all the consumers whose number stands around 10,000 but had to suspend the operation in 2017 after the Corporation failed to supply the requisite materials.
“We are expecting all the requisite materials including AB cables, metre boxes, poles and others likely by October next and we are confident that all the remaining consumers would be covered under the prepaid power connection by December this year,” the source anticipated.
It is learnt that incomplete/partial coverage of the prepaid metre system in the town has caused disenchantment among the power consumers over disparity in power tariffs.
Some of those using the new prepaid power alleged that it was unfair for the department to charge them according to how much power they consume but charge others not covered under the prepaid only a flat rate irrespective of power consumption.
The official source conceded that there was disgruntlement among some prepaid consumers and added that coverage of all existing consumers in the township under the prepaid system would put an end to the prevailing disparity in tariffs. “With this system, not only consumers will find their power usage more manageable but the power company will also not face loses any more, the source added.