Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Aliyev / The Chairman of the Executive Board of Baku Electricity Network OSC, Baba Rzayev, stated on 2 March that the OSC is to apply a new system of individual metering of the electricity delivered to the consumers.
The main difference of the new meters produced by British AMPY is their opportunity to be managed by the subscribers by applying a GSM system to replenish the balance and use other services. The existing meters will be replaced with new meters and will be installed at the expense of Baku Electricity Network. New subscribers will install the meters at their own expense. The cost of one meter (together with installation) is estimated at AZN 150-200.
Rzayev said that at present negotiations are held with the GSM operators in the territory of Azerbaijan.
The new system will provide an opportunity to manage the meters from a distance (from a unified center of Baku Electricity Network), decrease network loss and prevent illegal consumption of electricity. Another advantage of the new system is that it is possible to install any network irrespective of their technical condition.
The new system is intended to in operation in April-May. Presently 17,000 meters have been brought from Great Britain to Baku. An enterprise will be created in Azerbaijan to produce an additional 650,000 meters and this will also allow the meters to be exported to other countries in the future. Pilot programs attended by 24 subscribers are already realized in Baku by using new system.
According to the Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan, Heydar Babayev, the new system will raise the quality of electricity supplied to its subscribers. "In addition, it will minimize dissatisfaction from subscribers regarding the new tariffs as most complaints from consumers are related to problems with the electricity supply and not its cost."
