The Power Department may reverse the privatisation of three subdivisions given dissatisfaction with their performance, the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) was told after meeting Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal today.
The meeting centred on three issues – privatisation of the power sector, smart meters and enforcement of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020.
KHNAM working president Thomas Passah described the meeting as fruitful. According to him, the party sought clarification following reports that the state government was moving towards privatising the power sector. He highlighted that the government had already privatized four subdivisions – three in Garo Hills and one in Mawsynram – and KHNAM opposes the idea of extending privatisation any further, fearing that consumers will be hit with higher electricity bills.
The minister, however, assured the delegation that there are no plans for full-scale privatisation. Indeed, Passah quoted Mondal as saying the government was reconsidering its decision in light of dissatisfaction with the performance of three of the privatised subdivisions.
Later, Mondal shed more details about the three subdivisions that were given to FEDCO. The company is tasked only with the collection of outstanding bills. However, the department has given a show cause notice to the company and could also take legal action against it and may even terminate FEDCO’s contract.
“We are trying to see that MeECL (the state-owned Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd) overcomes the difficulty that it is facing. The financial position is better as far as consumer-related issues on distribution, transmission and generation also are energised, so that MeECL is in a better position. But there is no plan of privatising MeECL,” assured the minister.
KHNAM also raised concerns about the challenges faced by consumers due to the mandatory implementation of smart meters. Passah explained that many households were experiencing higher electricity bills with smart meters compared to traditional meters, creating financial stress. He pointed out additional issues, such as the non-functional state government app intended to track daily consumption and billing. “In some cases, bills for five or ten months are issued at once, which is a major burden for consumers,” he said, urging the government to ensure timely and accurate billing.
Lastly, KHNAM brought attention to the lack of effective implementation of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020. Passah noted that this legislation is meant to protect consumers’ rights, including provisions for compensation during power disruptions. However, he argued that the act is not being enforced as intended. Mondal reassured the delegation that the government is working diligently to address issues such as load shedding and improve power supply reliability.
