Tamil Nadu to float tenders for smart meters

Tenders for the installation of smart metres will be issued next week, and the union government's Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), which is providing funds as a loan, recently met with Tangedco officials, according to Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji. Aside from individual consumers, installation of smart metres in all feeders and transformers with remote communication facilities has been proposed in order to improve energy accounting and auditing. All work must be completed in TOTEX mode (combined capital and operational expenditure), which means that the contractor will install and maintain the metres until the end of the agreement period. Tangedco will not charge customers for the metres, according to Senthil Balaji. The project, according to a senior official, will be carried out under the Centre's revamped distribution sector scheme. More than one lakh smart metres have been installed as part of a pilot project in T-Nagar, Chennai. The bid specifications, including project cost and terms and conditions, are complete. To obtain the feasibility report, the power utility has formed a special official team to inspect the state. A private consultant also submitted a report last year, the official added. According to another official, the union government has allocated Rs 3,03,758 crore for 13 states and Rs 10,790 crore for Tamil Nadu under the RDS scheme. Tangedco anticipates that the Centre will release 70% of the funds in the first phase. The scheme includes loss reduction works and modernisation of distribution infrastructure. Loss of reduction works such as agriculture feeder segregation, the establishment of high voltage distribution systems, separation of double transfers, and metering works will be carried out. Also Read Over 300 projects faces insolvency proceedings in Maharashtra J-k-banihal-bypass likely to be completed by-year-end