The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has invited bids for bidirectional solar net meters to be installed in the state.

The tender calls for the supply of single-phase whole current electronic bidirectional energy meters and three-phase four-wire direct connected static tri-vector bidirectional energy meters. The tender has been floated for 2,000 single-phase bi-directional energy meters and 2,000 three-phase bi-directional energy meters.

A bidirectional energy meter allows consumers and electricity distribution companies to get information on the export and import of energy generated from a solar system and the grid. It also measures the difference between the generator’s supply and the customer’s load demand.

The last date for the submission of bids is January 9, 2020, and the delivery of materials should begin within two months from the date of the purchase order and should be completed within four months after that.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, stage testing, inspection, and testing before the supply and delivery of single-phase electronic bi-directional energy meters and three-phase static tri-vector bi-directional energy meters.

As for the eligibility criteria, the bidder should quote a minimum quantity of at least 20% of the total indicated in the bid specification. The bidder should have designed, manufactured, tested, and supplied to power utilities at least 40% of the quoted quantity in one continuous period of 12 months. The financial turnover during any one of the last five years should have been at least 100% value of the material quoted in this tender.

According to the tender document, the meters should be suitably designed for operating under the hot and tropical climate condition that exists in the state of Andhra Pradesh and should also be dustproof.

The meters should have the facility for remote reading through remote IrDA physical layer port from a minimum distance of 1.5 meters with the help of ISBM (Integrated Spot Billing Machine) to facilitate the utility for auto reading, billing the consumer at the spot, and downloading six months of data for future use.

Earlier, the state had issued a request for selection for the empanelment of agencies for 1 kW to 500 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects under the net metering policy. The projects will be developed at various locations within the jurisdiction of APEPDCL under the CAPEX model.

Previously, it was reported that APEPDCL had issued a tender to procure 600 HT TVR meters.