PANAJI
Digismart Networks Pvt Limited and Adani Energy Solutions Limited are the two companies that have quoted for installation of smart meters for 7.50 lakh consumers in Goa. Digismart Network is the lowest bidder (L1).
The Electricity Department has now moved the proposal before the Goa State Works Board for final decision. The Board is expected to meet this month.
After initial delay, the department has finally initiated process to install smart meters for which the Union Ministry for Power has sanctioned Rs 467 crore. The project is now expected to be implemented in a phased manner for over two and half years from 2025-26 onwards.
Speaking to The Goan, Chief Electrical Engineer (CCE) Stephen Fernandes confirmed that Digismart Network Pvt Ltd is the L1 bidder. He said both the names are forwarded to the Board for decision.
According to the Electricity Department, the smart meter functions on a real-time basis and records and stores all electrical parameters such as consumption of energy, voltage and current levels, etc. The data will be used by the department for billing, to monitor power quality, load scheduling, demand management and fault analysis.
As per the data released by the Union Ministry, Goa is one amongst few States whose progress on smart meters, distribution transformer meters (DTM) and feeder meters installation is Nil. The Ministry has sanctioned smart meters to around 7,41,160 consumers while 8,369 DTM and 827 feeder meters.
Under the Revamped Distribution Scheme (RDS), Goa’s initial target date for implementation of smart electricity meters was March 2023, which was later extended to March 2024.
Fernandes said that the work order will be issued to replace electronic meters across all 7.5 lakh consumers but the implementation will be done in a phased manner.
Fernandes said that the meters will improve the system stability, reliability and transparency and also optimise operating and maintenance expenses of the Electricity Department.
“Manual meter reading is not required and auto generation of bills is possible,” he said.
