Agartala, Sept 23: Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath today has clarified that smart meters, currently being installed under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), are an advanced step toward modernizing electricity distribution in India.
While speaking on the last day of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Power Minister informed that unlike conventional meters, which only record unit consumption, smart meters feature a two-way communication module that allows them to send and receive data directly with the electricity distribution company, TSECL.
Power Minister said that smart meters are designed with the latest technology and are tested according to Indian and international standards.
“Their high accuracy ensures that consumers are billed based on actual electricity usage rather than estimates, reducing errors and disputes. With smart meters, consumers can monitor their daily electricity consumption, giving them greater control over their usage and expenses. The installation of smart meters eliminates the need for meter readers and manual billing. Bills are automatically generated and sent digitally, ensuring transparency and reducing the chances of human error or manipulation. Consumers can also pay bills through various digital platforms, making the process more convenient”, said the power minister.
He informed that Smart meters offer multiple benefits for both consumers and TSECL including timely, accurate billing based on actual readings, reduced operational costs for the distribution company, improved grid management and load balancing, quick detection and resolution of power outages or faults, prepaid payment options and better tracking of energy usage, reduced electricity theft and improved revenue collection and addressing Consumer Concerns.
“Some consumers have expressed concern that smart meters result in higher bills. This is a misconception. Previously, certain meters were billed on average due to faulty readings or collusion between meter readers and consumers, often resulting in lower-than-actual bills. With smart meters replacing these faulty meters, unpaid arrears from the old meters are included in the current bills, which may make them appear higher. Consumers who now receive accurate bills are benefiting from a transparent and fair system. Smart meters also support the installation of devices in distribution transformers, allowing for accurate energy accounting, load management, and prevention of transformer failures due to overload or phase imbalance. In case of any fault, the smart meter automatically alerts the TSECL Network Operation-cum-Monitoring Centre, enabling quick corrective action”, said the minister.
The minister informed that the RDSS scheme ensures that smart meters are provided to consumers free of cost, with funding supported by both the Central and State Governments, marking a significant step toward modernizing India’s electricity system.