In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Tamil Nadu, PFC Consulting Limited (PFCCL)—a subsidiary of the state-owned Power Finance Corporation under the Union Ministry of Power—has invited bids to install 1.25 lakh smart electricity meters across the state. The project will be implemented in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai districts under the Centre’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
The proposed project, estimated to cost around ₹112 crore, aims to modernise electricity distribution and improve monitoring of power consumption in government and local body offices. According to tender documents, the installation will include 90,000 single-phase low-tension smart meters and 35,000 three-phase low-tension meters.
The selected Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) service provider will be responsible for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the smart meters. In addition, the contractor must provide field management and maintenance services for 93 months, while the system must be capable of storing data for up to 10 years with periodic archiving every six months.
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The tender requires the winning bidder to submit a detailed implementation plan within 15 days of contract award. Within three months, a Network Operation and Monitoring Centre must be established, and at least 5% of the meters should be installed and operational. The project timeline also mandates completion of 50% of installations within six months and the entire rollout within 10 months.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) said the state has about eight lakh electricity service connections for government and local body offices. The current tender represents the first phase, with additional tenders expected later to cover the remaining connections.
However, sources indicate the actual installation may not begin immediately due to administrative and political factors. Earlier plans to install around three crore smart meters statewide—including 1.4 crore in the first phase—have faced delays after previous tenders attracted bids from private players but were yet to be processed.
The smart meter initiative is part of broader efforts to improve power distribution efficiency, reduce transmission losses and enable real-time monitoring of electricity consumption across Tamil Nadu’s power network.
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