GB Union Dimapur opposes prepaid electric billing system
The GB Union Dimapur (Sadar) has reiterated its opposition to the installation of prepaid electric billing system
- DIMAPUR — The GB Union Dimapur (Sadar) has
reiterated its opposition to the installation of prepaid electric billing
system, following an executive meeting.
- In a press release issued on Wednesday, the union stated
that the prepaid billing system “is more of a disadvantage, both in terms of
practicability and technicality.”
- Maintaining that consumers have accepted “the digital
post-paid meter billing system through online/offline and has been effective
with no room for tampering,” it questioned what had triggered the introduction
of prepaid system “making it absolutely against the interest and welfare of the
consumers, rather promoting the interest of the private sector monopoly.”
- According to the union, prepaid meters pave the way for
privatisation “as the system would be captured by a private enterprise for
profits, and not in the interest of affordable, reliable, and sustainable
electricity access for common people by and large.”
- It stated that the public has the right to know how the
prepaid meter is beneficial to the consumers, “such as providing better supply,
being less economical, the price of the prepaid meter, and whether the amount
of the digital meter installed shall be refunded.”
- “These are a few points needing adequate clarification from
the concerned department, by which the consumers should have the option of
whether to use the digital meter or the prepaid meter. Until such time, prepaid
meter installation should not be made mandatory.
- “The GB union is ever ready to cooperate with the power
department; however, it shall stand opposed to the prepaid meter for the cause
of the common people,” it stated.
