Bhubaneswar, April 3: The Odisha government has failed to keep its deadline to introduce pre-paid electricity meters in government offices.

The installation of these meters was to be over by April 1, according to an earlier announcement by the energy department.

The power distribution companies said they needed another three months to install the meters in all the government offices, especially in the twin cities and the district headquarter offices.

The Odisha government has initiated the step to ensure that its own establishments judiciously consume power as various departments owe nearly Rs 200 crore to the government. The step will keep a check on misuse of power in government offices.

“The process of issuing tenders to procure 1,500 pre-paid meters has begun. It will require at least two to three months to install them,” said a senior official of the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu).

An official said it was binding on part of the distribution companies to introduce the pre-paid meters, failing which they would face punitive action.

The instalment has been a success in many areas in Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and some other states. According to the plan, all offices will be given a voucher for a month to use power.

The user will also get alerts regarding their balance through text messages in the last week of each month.

Once the voucher’s money limit is exhausted, power supply will be disconnected automatically.

If they exceed the limit they are likely to invite punitive action from the finance department, he said.

The energy department will also buy a software to prevent any possible manipulation of vouchers by the users.

The payment situation of government offices as far as power is concerned is quite bad. They have so far managed to evade payment through top-level intervention from the government.

According to the available information, Cesu’s total outstanding dues as on March 31, 2012, from government departments was around Rs 57.85 crore.

Southco’s dues on government offices were Rs 48 crore. Similarly, the dues of the Wesco’s were to the tune of Rs 33.93 crore while Nesco’s arrears stood at Rs 43.38 crore.