Bescom close to completing meter replacement project in Bengaluru 

Unlike the old meters, digital meters display voltage, maximum demand, load, current and old consumption rates, among other things.

Two years after the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) started replacing old electro-mechanical meters with new electrostatic, or digital meters, the project has neared completion. So far, at least 17,90,882 electro-mechanical meters have made way for 17,12,977 digital meters. 

According to data provided by Bescom, the replacement of 77,905 electro-mechanical meters is pending.

The meter replacement programme began in July 2022 in the four divisions of Bengaluru Metropolitan Area Zone (BMAZ). The replacement was undertaken after the old meters were unable to accurately record consumption. 

Two private companies were tasked with the replacement of meters on a turnkey basis. So far, 3.92 lakh digital meters have been installed in the East circle, 3.35 lakh meters in West circle, 4.63 lakh in North circle, and 5.20 lakh in South circle of BMAZ.  

“The project will be completed in about 45 days in BMAZ,” said a senior official from Bescom.

While no charge was levied on consumers for the replacement of meters, Bescom incurs a cost of ₹959 to replace each old meter with a new one. Bescom has spent over ₹200 crore on this project so far. 

Once the project is completed in BMAZ, Bescom plans to extend it to other areas, including the Bengaluru Rural Area Zone (BRAZ) and Bengaluru Rural Circle.