The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has invited bids to procure 188,000 smart meters based on 3G/4G mode for deployment under Ajmer and Jodhpur distribution companies (DISCOMs). The successful bidder will also have to provide operational support for the project for ten years.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering manufacturing, testing, inspection, supply, transportation, insurance, and handling of single-phase meters with a replacement warranty for 5.5 years.

The last date to submit the bids is March 05, 2021. The bids will be opened on the same day.

The successful bidder should furnish the bank guarantee for 3% of the contract value within 30 days from the receipt of the award.

The tender earmarks 25% of the quantity for micro and small enterprises, of which 4% and 3% are reserved for procurement from companies owned by scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST), and women entrepreneurs, respectively.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should be a manufacturer of static wattmeters and energy meters for at least three years. The bidder should have successfully supplied 56,400 AC static wattmeters and energy meters in the last three years to any government department, public sector undertaking, or private company.

Bidders should have an average annual turnover of at least ₹142 million (~$1.95 million) in the last three financial years and should have been profitable in any two of the last three financial years. The bidder’s net worth in the last financial year should not be less than 100% of the paid-up share capital.

Bidders from a country that shares a land border with India and registered with the competent authority can also participate in the bidding process.

In September last year, EESL invited bids for the supply of 2.35 million smart electricity meters based on 4G/3G/2G mode to be installed across India.

Earlier, EESL announced that it had installed over 1.2 million smart meters in India to date under the Ministry of Power’s (MoP) ‘Smart Meter National Program.’ EESL had said that it had enabled DISCOMs to generate a billing efficiency of 95% through the use of its smart meters during the COVID-19 lockdown, resulting in a 15-20% average increase in monthly revenue per consumer.

Previously, Mercom had written that the introduction of smart meters could go a long way in improving the financial performance of DISCOMs.