TNPDCL proposes appointment of private contractors for assessing electricity meters

The Tamil Nadu Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has proposed to outsource the bi-monthly assessment of meter readings of domestic consumers in the State as a short-term measure for six months, until the smart meters have been fixed.

The TNPDCL has been reeling from a severe manpower shortage in all categories, including linemen, wiremen, supervisors, and assessors. At present, the TNPDCL faces a 60% vacancy crunch in assessor positions, with only 3,063 assessors available against a sanctioned strength of 7,565, serving roughly 3.50 crore low-tension connections.

Particularly the shortage of assessors in Chennai, where there are nearly 40 lakh domestic consumers, has resulted in hundred of complaints regarding the low-tension (LT) consumers receiving inflated electricity bills due to delayed assessment of meters and table reading of meters (without visiting the houses).

Under this proposal, the TNPDCL has also given the authority to Executive Engineers (who would be controlling 20 section offices) to call for tenders to appoint private contractors for the exercise. . 

A senior official said the interim measure has been proposed to ensure prompt assessment of all LT (non-commercial) connections and also to avoid complaints from consumers regarding delayed meter readings.  

As per the tender document, the private contractor has been stipulated to assess 250 meters per day in Greater Chennai Corporation limits, 220 in other corporations, 200 in municipal towns, 180 in town panchayats, 110 in rural areas, and 80 in hill regions. The private assessors would have to carry out the assessment by using a mobile app through an optical probe, a Bluetooth transmitter, or a manual key by engaging outside staff.

While the proposal was welcomed by a section of the operation and maintenance engineers, who are facing hardships in carrying out their regular duty because of the assessors shortage, several electricity trade unions are concerned that the interim outsourcing would lead to privatisation of more works. 

An electricity official at a section office in South Chennai said that several retired assessors have been engaged to carry out meter assessment by fixing an amount of ₹5 per meter, but still, not many retired staff were willing to take up the job.  

A. Sekkizhar, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Employees’ Federation, requested the TNPDCL Chairman and Managing Director V. Arun Roy to cancel the appointment of private contractors for meter assessment, and said the federation has planned to hold a protest on Monday. He said the assessment of meters was a specialised job that demands a certain level of educational qualification. Moreover, once it is privatised it could lead to more job privatisation, he alleged. 

Consumer activists are likewise concerned about the efficiency of assessment that would be carried out by private contractors, who they said, may not bear the responsibility in their job of assessing 250 meters a day. 

Social activist S. Kumararaja said the best way for the TNPDCL is to speed up the installation of smart meters, at least in the city, and also allow self-assessment as a temporary measure.