Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL), a power distribution company (DISCOM), will be installing 2,50,000 smart meters in North and Northwest Delhi by end 2018.

The 2,50,000 smart meters will be installed under the first phase of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project and will cost around ₹1 billion (~$15.6 million). The communication canopy infrastructure will be in place by the end of December 2017 and the smart meters will be available from February to March 2018. Installation will be complete by the end of 2018.

The first phase of the project is being implemented in partnership with the global energy management pioneer Landis+Gyr. Phase I will include installing 50,000 three phase meters and 2,00,000 single phase meters.

The TPDDL is working on “the largest” smart metering project in the country, which will enable improved operational efficiency and benefit its consumers in Delhi, said Praveer Sinha, CEO, and MD TPDDL.

The TPDDL plans to install 1,80,000 smart meters in Delhi over the next seven to eight years. The estimated cost is ₹20 billion (~$312 million) for the entire project.

The second phase of the implementation will include 5,00,000 single phase meters and 50,000 three phase meters is scheduled to begin in April 2019.

“It is the largest project in the country and will have several benefits for consumers, such as sharing their power consumption pattern. It will also include meter tampering and power theft deterrents, and ensure better service,” said Mr. Sinha.

The company will bear the whole cost of the smart meters, with no added cost to consumers for installation of smart meters.

Smart meters are electronic devices that establish two-way communication between the consumer and the power utility by sending power consumption information at regular intervals.

Image credit: Tata Power DDL