Rollout of smart meters in Dec, no tariff hike till 2027: Goa Power minister

Panaji: Power minister Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar on Monday said that the installation of smart meters in the state will begin in Dec this year.“Agencies will complete the installation of smart meters within three years,” Dhavalikar said, adding that any increase in power tariffs will only be decided by the new govt in 2027.He stated that the current govt will not raise power tariffs and noted that tariffs for high-tension consumers have, in fact, been reduced.Dhavalikar pointed out that there was only a 5 paise per unit increase in the new power tariff after Oct 1 for low-tension connections. For consumers using more than 400 units, the increase was 6.9%. “Where is a 20% increase in power tariff?” Dhavalikar questioned the opposition’s claim.He said the opposition would not achieve anything by “gheraoing” officers and advised them to study the situation before protesting without factual information. Dhavalikar added that he is not afraid of protests from the opposition, as he has faced many demonstrations since entering politics, including instances where his effigies were burnt in the past.“The opposition has come onto the streets based on wrong news in the media,” Dhavalikar said.

He also mentioned that some electricity meters are located inside houses, making it difficult for meter readers to take readings, as many of those houses remain closed.Last month, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), which regulates the power sector in Goa and the union territories, approved an average annual power tariff hike of 4% for 2025-26 to 2029-30. This average hike is lower than what the electricity department had proposed, 5.59% for 2025-26, 5.64% for 2026-27, and 4.88% for 2027-28.Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Saturday criticised electricity department’s proposal to increase nighttime power tariffs by 20%. GFP president Vijai Sardesai said that such a move is not only counterproductive to the Centre’s green policies but also reflects govt’s lack of long-term vision for the state.