Supreme Court Ruling Delays Smart Meter Rollout in Karnataka
Representative Image BENGALURU: The government’s initiative to implement smart meters for new electricity connections across the state has resulted in significant administrative hurdles, exacerbated by confusion regarding the Supreme Court’s mandate for mandatory occupancy certificates (OC). Smart meters are anticipated to minimize transmission losses, enhance billing accuracy, and facilitate real-time monitoring of electricity usage. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling, aimed at reinforcing building compliance standards, has inadvertently impeded progress in modernizing the power sector. The program, launched nearly a year ago, was initially targeted for all new and temporary electricity connections in the jurisdictions of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom)…