Shillong, June 23: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today chaired a review meeting at the State Guest House, Taraghar, Shillong, to assess issues relating to electricity supply, billing practices and consumer grievances in areas managed by SAI Computers under the Distribution Franchisee arrangement of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL).
The meeting was attended by Chairman-cum-Managing Director, MeECL, Sanjay Goyal, senior officials of MePDCL, representatives of SAI Computers, and other concerned officials.
During the meeting, SAI Computers made a detailed presentation on the status of operations in its franchise areas, highlighting challenges inherited from previous operations, including a high percentage of defective meters, ageing infrastructure, transformer failures, unmetered connections, gaps in consumer data and billing-related issues.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that a substantial proportion of consumers in the franchise areas belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and that many meters in the newly handed-over areas were already non-functional when operations were taken over.
They further stated that efforts are underway to replace defective meters, improve network infrastructure and address long-pending technical issues affecting power supply.
Expressing concern over public complaints regarding high electricity bills and irregular power supply, the Chief Minister stressed that consumer confidence and service delivery must remain the foremost priority.
“Electricity is one of the most sensitive public services because it directly affects households every month. If people are paying higher bills and yet are not receiving reliable power, there will naturally be frustration. We must understand the concerns of the people and respond accordingly,” he said.
The Chief Minister noted that while the franchisee may have inherited several operational challenges, consumers are primarily concerned with the quality of service they receive. He therefore directed SAI Computers and MePDCL to adopt a more consumer-centric approach while implementing reforms.
“The public does not care who inherited the problem. They want better service. Therefore, the focus must first be on improving power supply, replacing transformers and meters, and strengthening infrastructure. Once people begin to see improvements, trust will be built,” he said.
Highlighting complaints regarding consumer interactions, Sangma emphasized the importance of respectful engagement with the public and urged the franchisee to strengthen communication and outreach efforts.
“Our people are simple. If you speak to them respectfully, they will respond positively. If there is a communication gap, misunderstandings will grow. Building trust with consumers is the most important thing at this stage,” he said.
The Chief Minister directed the franchisee to undertake extensive public outreach programmes involving local leaders, church representatives, NGOs, teachers and other stakeholders to explain the challenges being addressed, the improvements being undertaken and the timelines for implementation. He also advised the company to actively seek public feedback and address grievances in a timely manner.
Stressing the need to balance financial sustainability with consumer welfare, Sangma advised the franchisee to adopt a phased approach in implementing billing-related measures and to avoid placing sudden financial burdens on consumers while service improvements are still underway.
“Let us solve the problem first. We have to understand the people’s concerns and work together to provide better service. We are one team and our objective is to ensure reliable power supply for the people,” he said.
The Chief Minister assured all stakeholders that the State Government would continue to support investments in power infrastructure, including substations, transformers and other network improvements.
He noted that the Government remains committed to strengthening the power sector and ensuring that consumers receive reliable and affordable electricity.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director, MeECL, Sanjay Goyal, informed the meeting that several infrastructure improvement projects are already underway under various schemes, including the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
He also stressed the need for accelerated replacement of defective meters, transformer upgrades, improved voltage management and stronger consumer engagement in the affected areas.
The meeting concluded with directions for SAI Computers and MePDCL to intensify efforts towards infrastructure improvement, strengthen consumer outreach and awareness programmes, expedite metering and transformer replacement initiatives, and submit regular progress updates for further review.
