App on power usage launched

The Centre on Wednesday launched an app that will let power consumers know the cost at which their distribution companies (discoms) purchase power.

The Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency (Merit) app will display information regarding the merit order, which includes daily state-wise marginal variable costs of all generators, daily source-wise power purchases of respective states with source-wise fixed and variable costs, energy volumes, purchase prices and availability of cheaper electricity.

“With the app explaining everything on power, electricity users can now question their discoms if they procure power at a higher cost when it is also available at a cheaper price,” Jyothi Arora, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power, told Deccan Herald.

“As the discoms get the information about the prices of power availability across the country through this app, they can purchase electricity from the cheapest source and supply it to consumers... power prices vary depending on the demand,” she said. 

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, who launched the app, said it would help the states reduce power purchasing costs as they can get to know where the cheapest power is available.

“With 1,20,000 crore units of power being consumed in the country currently — which will go up to two lakh crore units in five years — this app can help save 10 paise per unit... which makes for a straight saving of Rs 20,000 crore a year for discoms,” Goyal said. 

The power ministry has developed the app in association with the Power System Operation Corporation and Central Electricity Authority.