Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of the public-sector units of the Ministry of Power and the Government of India, has issued a tender to procure 5 million smart electricity meters. The meters will be deployed pan India and the bid-submission deadline is April 12, 2018.

The smart meters procured by EESL will utilize GPRS technology to allow two-way communication between the DISCOM and consumers.

The scope of work for the global tender includes the design, manufacture, and on-site supply of 5 million smart meters across India. The successful bidder will be responsible for maintaining the smart meters after installation. Each bidder must also submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹142.4 million (~$2.19 million).

The performance guarantee will be equivalent to 10 percent of the contract cost and will be locked in for a seven-year period. The successful bidder must provide product replacement warranty of five and a half years after installation of the smart meters. The successful bidder will also be responsible to provide operational support for a period of 10 years.

Per EESL the smart meters must comply with IS 16444 (Part 1) and (Part 2) regulations, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Regulations on “Installation and Operation of Meters” and the smart meter specifications mentioned in the CEA guidelines on functional requirements of advanced metering infrastructure in India. IS 16444 is a standard issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

All materials and equipment manufactured by bidders will be subject to inspection by EESL during and after the manufacture. If the equipment does not meet EESL specifications upon delivery, it will be rejected.

This is the third tender issued by EESL for procurement of smart meters. In December 2017, EESL issued a tender to procure 10 million pre-paid electricity meters for Uttar Pradesh. In October 2017, ITI Limited emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder to supply and install 5 million smart meters across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.