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 10 million pre-paid electricity meters for Uttar Pradesh. The bid-submission deadline is January 5, 2018.

The scope of work for the global tender includes the design, manufacture, and on-site supply of 10 million magnetic- or smart card-based pre-paid electricity meters in Uttar Pradesh. The successful bidder will be responsible for maintaining the smart meters after installation. Each bidder must also submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹108.3 million (~$1.7 million).

EESL has appointed M/S C1 India Pvt. Ltd. of Noida as the implementing agency for the procurement of the smart meters. Bidders must visit and examine the meter installation sites to gather information before preparing their respective bids. The price must be quoted on a Free on Road (FOR) destination basis for the sites.

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, and the bidders must replace it within 15 days of being notified.

The successful bidders must provide a defect liability guarantee for 18 months from the date the meters are completely set up or 12 months from the date of the operational acceptance of the meters.

This is the second tender issued by EESL for the procurement of smart meters this year. In October 2017, ITI Limited emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder to supply and install 5,000,000 smart meters across Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The state of Uttar Pradesh is grappling with rampant electricity theft and non-collection of electricity bills. EESL is trying to install smart meters across the state so that DISCOMs can overcome the power theft issues.

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