KERC Mandates Automated Meter Reading And Billing For Open Access To Streamline Processes And Protect Consumers

In an order dated March 29, 2023, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) directed new guidelines for meter reading and billing. Starting August 1, 2023, all meter readings at both the injection and drawl points of consumers must be through Automated Meter Reading (AMR), with data automatically transferred to billing software for bill generation. The KPTCL and ESCOMs are responsible for establishing the necessary web portal and system integration. However, wherever AMR is already installed and communication facilities are in place, billing automation should begin immediately.

Until the automatic reading and billing systems are fully operational, the following interim procedures must be adopted. Each month, an authorized representative from the ESCOM where energy is injected, along with a company representative, will read or download meter data at midnight on the last day of the month. They will sign a joint statement indicating previous and current readings, including energy and reactive power imported and injected, and any other parameters needed for billing. This statement must be signed only by authorized representatives.

Additionally, the generator must submit an allocation statement signed by the company’s authorized representative, detailing the energy injected during the month and its allocation to consumers, identified by RR number and ESCOM under WBA. Both the joint statement and the allocation statement must be emailed by the second day of the month to avoid billing delays. The original copies can be sent later for record purposes.

At the consumer end, the jurisdictional engineer will read or download meter data at midnight on the last day of the month, sign a statement with previous and current readings, and compute the energy and reactive power consumed, along with any other billing parameters. This information must be sent to the billing section by the second day of the month.

If the net energy injected by the generator under WBA exceeds the total energy consumed by the open-access consumer, the entire consumption should be treated as “wheeled energy,” and any remaining energy as “banked energy.” Conversely, if the net energy injected plus any banked energy is less than the total energy consumed, the excess consumption should be billed according to the applicable tariff for non-executive or executive consumers, with the excess deemed to be supplied by the consumption point ESCOM.

The billing section must prepare the bill after deducting consumption from various open access sources like IEX and wheeling, and send it to consumers by the 5th day of the month.

The commission has noted with displeasure that these directives are not being followed. It has come to their attention that ESCOMs have been issuing bills without accounting for open access or wheeled energy, subsequently issuing revised bills, causing hardship to consumers.

In light of this, the commission reiterates that ESCOMs must adhere to the guidelines from the March 29, 2023 order, ensuring open access and wheeled energy are accounted for before issuing bills. Open access consumers are not required to pay bills that do not account for their open access or wheeled energy, and ESCOMs cannot disconnect electricity for non-payment of such improperly issued bills.

Please view the document here for more details.