New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today stressed that getting electricity was as basic as getting water and air in a civilised society. ''It is time to spread awareness on necessity for metering. In Delhi, the DISCOMs have succeeded to large extent in this direction and consumers are interested in reliable meters as getting electricity is a right like water and air in a civilised society,'' Ms Dikshit said while inaugurating a Metering, Billing/CRM India conference and exhibition here.

Emphasising on the need of consumer reforms, she added, ''Correct metering is bound to put an end to suspicion between the consumers and distribution companies.'' She also informed that the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses had been reduced from 50 per cent in 2002 to 20 per cent in 2008-09.

Also, load-shedding in the capital had reduced from 2.5 per cent to 0.6 per cent of the total energy supplied. The billing net ensured that losses due to the unmetered consumers in JJ cluster areas were minimised. The Chief Minister further exhorted consumers to curb power wastage.

Based on the theme 'Transforming the Power Utility With Smart Meter and Grid Technologies,' the three-day conference was organised by the BSES in association with other national and international manufacturers of grid appliances. The exhibition displayed a large number of latest metering technologies apart from other related appliances. Secretary (Power) Shri Rajendra Kumar, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited CEO Gopal Saxena and other eminent personalities in the field of power were also present on the occasion.