TANGEDCO to initiate tender process for smart meter project

The first package will cover 13 districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vellore, Dharmapuri, and other northern districts. It should be noted that TANGEDCO has already installed 1.1 lakh meters in Chennai's T Nagar area as part of the smart city project on a trial basis. The objective of the first package is to install 11.7 million smart meters, followed by 10.2 million meters in the second package and 8 million meters in the third package. These smart meters will have prepaid functionality for all categories of LT consumers except agriculture and hut services.

A TANGEDCO official explained that smart meters have digital readings and utilize a secure smart data network to wirelessly transmit readings at least once a month, ensuring accurate billing instead of estimation. The servers will also facilitate the easy identification of faults.

According to another official, the proposal suggests the installation of smart meters for all feeders and transformers, accompanied by remote communication capabilities, to enhance energy accounting and auditing. All metering activities will be conducted in TOTEX mode, covering both capital expenditure and operational expenditure.