Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) expects to finalize the smart meter tendering process by mid-December 2022.
Addressing an investor conference, K. Sreekant, Chairman & Managing Director, PGCIL, said that the company expects for finalize the evaluation of techno-commercial bids related to smart metering by middle of December 2022. Actual project execution is likely to start in the fourth quarter (January-March) of FY23, the top official added.
PGCIL, it may be recalled, is foraying in the smart metering domain under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The Central PSU has initiated a procurement process for end-to-end smart metering solutions for a volume of 1 crore smart meters.
A number of parties have submitted their techno-commercial bids, the evaluation of which is currently underway.
Sreekant added that most of these 1 crore meters (amounting to around 66 lakh) will be deployed in Gujarat. To this effect, PGCIL has already entered into MoUs with two Gujarat government-owned discoms – MGVCL and UGVCL — catering to central and northern Gujarat, respectively. The MoUs relate to implementation of advance metering infrastructure (AMI) systems covering 66 lakh smart meters across the two utilities.
PGCIL is also in discussion with other states for similar ventures.
According to K. Sreekant, PGCIL has a potential opportunity worth 25 crore smart meters, as envisaged under RDSS. The outlay for smart metering under RDSS is around Rs.1,50,00 crore, which includes gross budgetary support (Central government assistance) of Rs.22,500 crore. The total outlay for RDSS is around Rs.3,00,000 crore. (Rs.3 trillion).
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(Note: MGVCL is Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd; UGVCL is Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd; featured photograph is for representation only.)