Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) is exploring opportunities to offer end-to-end smart metering solutions in Mizoram.
Addressing an investor conference discussing the company’s Q3 (September-December) results of FY23, K. Sreekant, Chairman & Managing Director, PGCIL said that the company is exploring the possibility of offering end-to-end smart metering solutions to Mizoram, on the lines of what it is doing in Gujarat.
In Gujarat, PGCIL has signed an MoU with two state discoms – Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (
) and Uttar Gujarat Vidyut Company Ltd (UGVCL) – to implement advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems for around 66 lakh smart meters.
Discussions to provide similar services in other states, including Mizoram, is underway, Sreekant said.
In all, PGCIL has targeted to deploy 1 crore smart meters, including those in Gujarat and in other states, over the next two years.
Meanwhile, PGCIL has concluded the bidding process for empanelling equipment suppliers and service providers for the smart metering endeavour. Financial bids are currently under evaluation, the PGCIL CMD noted.
Giving an estimate of the capital expenditure involved, K. Sreekant explained that the indicative capex for 1 crore smart meters would be in the region of Rs.5,500 crore to Rs.6,000 crore. PGCIL was expecting revenues of around Rs.700 crore per year once all the 1 crore smart meters are commissioned, Sreekant estimated.
It may be mentioned that PGCIL’s smart metering drive is part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) where the Union power ministry has planned the roll out of 25 crore smart prepaid meters with a total project outlay of around Rs.1,50,000 crore inclusive of budgetary support of Rs.22,500 crore. In the first phase, around 10 crore meters have been planned.
Indirect involvement
It may be mentioned that IntelliSmart – a joint venture between Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) and National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) – is also planning to undertake smart meter rollouts under RDSS, to the tune of 2 crore meters. PGCIL will be indirectly associated with this enterprise as it is a 33 per cent shareholder in EESL. All the same, K. Sreekant clarified that both PGCIL and IntelliSmart will be pursuing opportunities and executing projects, independently.
Also read: PGCIL To Finalize Smart Meter Tenders By Mid-December 2022
Patents
In an independent development, PGCIL has received the patent received for “smart socket and smart home energy manager” that has been developed in collaboration with IIT-Kharagpur. Patent has also been granted for “energy efficient all-season roof screening.”
