Smart meters will usher in win-win situation, asserts Andhra Pradesh Energy Department official

Savings to the tune of thousands of crores can be achieved, says K. Vijayanand

Special Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, K. Vijayanand on Tuesday asserted that installation of smart meters to agriculture power connections would be a win-win situation for both the power distribution companies and the farmers.

At a press conference, Mr. Vijayanand said that while the smart meters would make the Discoms more responsible and accountable and provide the farmers the right to question the service providers in case of lapses, it would help the department by generating real-time data management without any human interference.

He said that under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) approved by the Centre to help Discoms improve their operational efficiencies and financial sustainability by providing result-linked financial assistance and strengthen supply infrastructure, it was decided to affix smart meters in every sector in the State by March, 2025.

He said a decision to replace the consumer meters with smart meters to agriculture connections in the first phase was decided only after a pilot project implemented in Srikakulam district showed good results. Two surveys were conducted in Srikakulam, he said, explaining that one was by an independent organisation called Prayas which installed around 100 smart meters and recorded electricity savings of 20%. “Our data, collected from the smart meters installed, showed a 33% reduction in power consumption,” he said.

Pointing to the fact that the agriculture sector consumes around 12,000 million units of electricity, he said that even if 20% is saved, it would translate into savings of nearly 2,400 million units, and in case of 33%, it would be 3,600 million units.

“At 20%, we would be able to save ₹1,900 crore per year and at 33%, it comes to around ₹3,000 crore, which would drastically reduce the payback period,” he said.

Replying to a query, Mr. Vijayanand said that the approximate cost of an infrared meter was ₹9,600 while the smart meter would cost ₹7,000. “It is only a small difference contrary to misleading reports appearing in a section of the media,” he said.