The Union Minister for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal has said that all the states have resolved to provide 24×7 power for all by March 2019 or earlier in their respective states. Further all states, except LWE affected, have also resolved to electrify all remaining unelectrified villages by 31st December 2016 and states will award contracts in the next 30 days for this work. Announcing this at a press conference at the state Power Ministers Conference, Shri Goyal said that states also agreed for providing 100 percent power to all households in 18452 villages in the country in a mission mode by 1st May 2017.The participating states also resolved to ensure that operational and financial milestones in the MOU for UDAY would also be implemented. In a landmark decision all states resolved to procure henceforth only Smart Meters which are tamper proof and communication enabled. The Minister said the cost of these smart meters has been brought down by 60 percent from Rs 8000 to Rs 3223 as a result of central procurement and the endeavor is to go for only such meters in the future for 25 crore consumers in the country.
The Minister also announced that one 4 digit all India number 1912 has been started for consumer complaints across the country. Sharing the outcome of the 2 day meeting, he said it was a successful fruitful dialogue over two days and everyone worked in service of the poor and farmers in a cooperative and collaborative manner demonstrating the strength of our democracy. Shri Goyal said the meeting disproved the notion that different political interests cannot bring about commonality of a purpose. The meeting also discussed Hydro power policy and sought to work out ways of reviving small (25 MW or less) stalled hydro projects with cooperation from the states to provide new thrust to the hydro sector. He said a committee for this has been set up which will submit its recommendations by 30th September 2016.