Smart Meters: Domestic, commercial consumers excluded

Staff Reporter

Amidst the hullabaloo in State over replacing regular power meters by smart meters, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), as per information, has not mentioned about domestic and commercial consumers as yet. Amid all-cornered opposition and apprehension among citizens, sources said, MSEDCL has listed the priority sectors. The list does not include installation of pre-paid meters at any of the household. Now, the field officials are in a fix as they are short of a reason for protest as domestic and commercial categories are exluded from replacement of the power meters. Smart meters project is mandated by Central Government under Smart Meter National Plan as part of Rapid Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) wherein the aim is to ensure reliable power supply to consumers. But the main component of the scheme is to ensure that power distribution sector is financially stable by eliminating the chances of default. Field units have received guidelines on how to execute the Smart meter programme and the list, as per sources, only mandates affixing pre-paid meters at High Tension (HT) consumers places.

The Zonal bosses are told to fist complete installation of feeder meters. About 27,826 meters are to be affixed through the State and this exercise will ensure that at first gateway the power supply will be monitored effectively. The power supply figure from feeder should then match with the transformer and in case of any difference it would be transmission losses. So the mismatch in figures would also prompt review so that correctional measures can be taken. In second phase, the distribution transformer (DT) meters would be installed. They would be 4,03,705 in different zones of the State, excluding Mumbai. Thereafter, smart meters will be installed at all Government offices and quarters as same would enable keeping check on the consumption. This way unnecessary wastages of power can be curbed. Also next in line will be HT consumers and there about 23,086 meters are needed to be affixed. And last but not the least all new power connection across all categories will come with pre-paid meters, the sources mentioned further.

Smart meters installation is part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) under RDSS scheme. The meters are being installed on Design, Build, Finance, Own, Operate and Transfer (DBFOOT) mode. Four companies have won the bids to rollout the smart meters on the above mentioned categories. M/s Adani has got rights to Bhandup, Kalyan and Konkan where they will affix 63,44,066 units while at Kolhapur they will provide 17,31,053 meters. Besides this the company has also bagged rights for Baramati and Pune circle where they will affix 52,45,917 meters. Apart from that M/s NCC won the bid for Nashik and Jalgaon where they will affix 28,86,622 meters and for Latur, Nanded and Aurangabad about 27,77,759 meters. M/s Montecario will fix meters in Chandrapur, Gondia and Nagpur and they will be about 30,30,346 while M/s Genus will provide smart meters for Akola and Amravati and they will be about 21,76,636.