Smart meters live but consumers unable to access data in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
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These were expected to update consumers on their real-time energy consumption and analyse power consumption data. A consumer from the N-11 sector said he received a message that read 'no data found' when he tried to access his power consumption trends using the official mobile app of MSEDCL. "The MSEDCL replaced my old meter with a smart meter a few weeks ago. While the new devices are projected as modern ones, these so-called smart meters fail to share hourly, daily and monthly power consumption analysis," he said, preferring anonymity.According to official data, over 56,000 ToD meters have been installed by MSEDCL in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar zone so far. Leftist leader Abhay Taksal, who has launched a public campaign against the new meter installations, said the unavailability of desired data exposes MSEDCL's tall claims. "The installation of smart meters is a strategy to offer benefits to corporate players at the cost of the interest of consumers. Govt must roll back its plan of replacing existing meters," he said.When contacted, Pawankumar Kachhot, MSEDCL chief engineer of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar zone, said the private agency concerned was developing a mobile application to access the data concerned. "The mobile application is under development. Once developed and made available to public, consumers will be able to access consumption trends," he told TOI. The MSEDCL top brass said they had no idea why the official mobile app of the state power utility has provided the option of accessing the desired data separately.
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