Bids sought for second phase of smart metering in Tamil Nadu under RDSS

T&D News

T&D India
June 15, 2026

Project implementation agency PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) has invited financial bids for the second leg of smart metering projects in Tamil Nadu.

In this round, bids have been invited from advanced smart metering service providers (AMISP) for installation of 5.45 lakh smart meters, spread over 34 circles, under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The first round was initiated in March 2026 and related to 1.25 lakh smart meters spread over 11 circles.

PFCCL has been nominated as project implementation agency by state discom Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd.

The bidding is restricted to eight entities that PFCCL has already empaneled under “Group 2” in March 2025. This group refers to entities (potential AMISPs) that are can handle a project size of between 2 lakh and 10 lakh smart meters.

Rollout volume

The 5.45 lakh smart meters envisaged under this round include 4.07 lakh single-phase and 1.38 lakh three-phase meters. The highest number of meters, at 33,484 including 26,384 single-phase meters, are to be installed in Tirunelveli circle. Some other important circles with regard to number of smart meters envisaged are Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri, Trichy Metro and Pudukkottai. (See table)

The project has to be implemented in 10 months with another 93 months representing the FMS (field management service) period.

First round

Under the first round, which was initiated in March 2026, financial bids were invited from seven pre-qualified entities in “Group 1” for installation of 1.25 lakh smart meters that covered 0.90 lakh single-phase LT smart meters and 0.35 lakh three-phase LT smart meters.

This round closed on March 16, 2026, as per information available with tndindia.com but the final results are yet to be officially announced.

Bidding scrapped

A total of 3 crore smart meters are expected to be installed in Tamil Nadu under RDSS, making the state the leader in this regard. In early 2025, the state government cancelled a tender, valued at around Rs.19,000 crore and involving 8.2 million smart meters, citing high costs. Adani Energy Solutions Ltd had emerged L1 bidder for this tender. Alongside, the tendering process of three other projects was also scrapped.