-Rajesh Mishra
Lucky now: WowCompanies eager to invest in the energy sector in Uttar Pradesh are getting a jolt even before the Schweik Investor Summit (GIS). The state government has not been able to select the company to supply Prepaid Smart Meters even after two months of calling for tenders. Smart meters have been depleted in the state for the past two months. Due to the lack of prepaid smart meters in the state, work to provide new electrical connections has come to a standstill.
The government has yet to make a decision on the provision of prepaid smart meters. The bidding process for the installation of prepaid smart meters in the areas of the four power companies in the state concluded more than two months ago, but the final decision has not yet been made. On Sunday, Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam (MVVNL) issued an order canceling the tender for prepaid smart meters.
Decision to invite a new tender
Adani Group had submitted the lowest bid in the Madhyanchal bidding process. However, even the lowest offer from the Adani group was Rs 10,000, much higher than the cost estimated by the Central Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) at Rs 6,000 per prepaid smart meter. Due to this, MVVNL has decided to cancel it and invite a new tender.
The work of giving new connections stopped
On the other hand, given the lack of a decision on the prepaid meters, the crisis of giving new connections to the four electricity companies in the state has arisen. In accordance with departmental regulations, new electrical connections in marginal neighborhoods, Tierra Nazul, government neighborhoods, and departments can only be made with prepaid smart meters. The Meter Data Management System server related to smart meter billing is also closed since December last year, the work of giving new connections has been stopped.
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The prepaid smart meters will be procured at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore
MVVNL officials say it is not possible to take any action on pending connection requests due to the unavailability of prepaid meters. He says Rs 2.5 crore prepaid smart meters will be procured in Uttar Pradesh at the expense of Rs 25,000 crore. For this, Madhyanchal, Paschimanchal, Dakshinchal and Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam invited separate tenders in November last year. Among the four sectors, while Adani Group quoted the highest rates for two, Intelli Smart and GMR quoted the lowest rates for one each. Following the cancellation of the Madhyanchal tender on Sunday, now the three remaining distribution corporations have to make a decision in this context.
Efforts to reduce electricity theft
Smart prepaid meters will be installed in more and more homes in Uttar Pradesh to reduce distribution losses and prevent power theft, officials say. Because no decision has been made on the provision of meters, this work is behind schedule. On the other hand, State Council of Electricity Consumers Chairman Awadhesh Verma says that the tender should be invited by dividing the state into six to eight parts and that meter manufacturing companies should also be given the opportunity to participate in it. .