On July 20, 2021, the central government started the scheme for reforms in the power distribution sector. Under this, a target has been set to install 250 million smart prepaid meters for all domestic customers by March 2025.
In order to provide better facilities to the people across the country, the department is working together on several fronts for the reforms in the power sector. In these reforms, work is being done to replace the old traditional electricity meter with pre-paid smart meter. Smart meters worth Rs 23 thousand crore are to be installed in Uttar Pradesh, for which GMR, L&T and IntelliSmart including Adani Group are also in the race for the biggest smart meter tender of Rs 23,000 crore in UP. Tenders are on to install about 28 million smart meters as well as meter data management, cloud computing, billing and communication systems for the state’s four distribution companies. Let us tell you that this tender was taken out on August 5 and was closed on Monday. Meters are to be installed in 27 months. This project is being taken up under the Center’s Revamped Distribution Area Scheme.
According to the data of the Union Power Ministry, so far the process of replacing 50 lakh conventional electricity meters with smart pre-paid meters has been completed across the country. According to these figures, maximum 11,56,855 meters have been installed in Uttar Pradesh. This is followed by 11,08,703 meters in Bihar, then Rajasthan (5,55,958), Haryana (5,38,293), Assam (4,15,063), Delhi (2,59,094), Madhya Pradesh (2,43,313), Himachal Pradesh (1 ,47,104), Tamil Nadu (1,23,945) and Jammu and Kashmir (1,13,857).
target of installing 25 crore smart meters
On July 20, 2021, the central government started the scheme for reforms in the power distribution sector. Under this, a target has been set to install 250 million smart prepaid meters for all domestic customers by March 2025. It has been estimated that around Rs 3.3 lakh crore will be spent on this. Out of which smart meters worth Rs 23 thousand crore will be installed in UP alone. These smart meters are being installed under various schemes of the Center and the states. In the year 2022-23, 100 million meters are to be installed in priority areas and the rest will be installed by the end of 2024-25. This will bring great convenience to the customers.
How does this smart meter work?
The new pre-paid smart meter works like a mobile number. It has to be recharged like a mobile number. In many meters, the SIM card of the mobile company with the better network connection of that area is also included. Those taking electricity connections have to recharge the meter before using the electricity. In this meter, consumers will be able to consume electricity of only Rs. A message comes on the mobile when the recharge is over. The power supply automatically shuts down if it is not recharged on time. That is, you will not be able to use electricity without recharging.
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