State-wide Installation of Smart Meters to Begin Soon: UPPCL

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited

In a bid to cut down aggregate technical and commercial losses, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has decided to soon launch a state-wide drive for installing smart prepaid meters in residences of consumers and on distribution transformers.

Principal Secretary, Energy and Chairman of UPPCL, M Devraj said that the Government of India has earmarked funds for metering and other associated works to be carried out under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Detailing on the move he said, UPPCL is going to install as many as 73,27,988 smart prepaid meters in Varanasi discom, 75,28,737 in Lucknow discom, 53,54,069 in Agra discom, 61,43,361 in Meerut discom and 62,500 meters in Kesco.

Apart from the metering, Devraj also spoke about other works that have been given a green chit under the scheme. Works like laying armed cables in consumers’ premises, converting LT lines into ABC cables, constructing agriculture feeders, and strengthening 33 kV and 11 kV lines. To execute the works, the Central government has earmarked a sum of ₹4543.78 crore for Varanasi discom, ₹4165.32 crore for Lucknow discom, ₹3771.57 crore for Agra discom, ₹3403.01 crore for Meerut discom, and ₹614.93 crore for Kesco.

As per Devraj, the UPPCL aims to replace all the electricity lines with aerial bunch conductors (ABCs) to contain power theft issues.