Solar consumers fume as Tangedco yet to provide meters

The high potential of the State to generate solar power prompted Tangedco to encourage domestic consumers to set up solar panels to reduce their dependence on power from the public utility, and augment the availability by sending excess power generated by the domestic units to the State grid.

Nearly 30 consumers in Vellore and Kancheepuram districts who have put up such panels are still in the dark about the actual quantum of solar power they are generating as Tangedco has not provided meters despite collecting the meter cost of Rs 7,000, according to SK Shanker of Vellore. “I set up a domestic solar power plant in my house four months ago at a cost of Rs 1.75 lakh. But till date, I am unable to know how much power my plant is generating. Meanwhile, I continue to pay the monthly loan instalment for the plant, in addition to also paying bi-monthly power bill,” Shankar said.

Tamil Nadu Hotels Association president M Venkedasubbu is another such customer, who had installed a domestic plant to power the central kitchen of his hotel. “Though I paid the meter cost, I am yet to get it.”

When asked about this, Vellore Tangedco officials said, “The meters have to reach Vellore from the central office in Chennai because of an ongoing dispute on how to charge consumers for the solar power provided. This has resulted in things coming to a standstill.”

As per the proposal, solar power provided to the grid would be metered and calculated against the power drawn from Tangedco grid while preparing the bill. The power utility is planning to fix a charge of Rs 2.36 per unit for solar power provided to the grid. As a final decision has not been taken, the consumers who spent substantial amount of money on setting up the panels rued that they have invested money unnecessarily, as it has not yielded any returns till date.