Top companies of the energy and infrastructure sector have filed their bids for the  Rs 23,000 crore tender floated by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) for the procurement of smart meters to be installed at the premises of all categories of power consumers.

The companies include Larsen and Toubro, GMR, Adani Energy and Intellismart which is a joint venture of state-owned entity Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and NIIF has also shown interest.

The Rs 23,000 crore tender is to install 2.8 crore smart meters across the state.

These smart meters will be installed in the areas of four of the five power distribution companies of UPPCL, which include Purvanchal power distribution, Paschimanchal power distribution, Dakshin power distribution and Madhyanchal power distribution companies. This covers the whole state except the area under KESCo (Kanpur Electricity Supply Company). Up to now 11 lakh smart meters have been installed across the state.

Recently, the Union power ministry also issued the country's largest ever tender for procuring 10 million smart meters. Close to a dozen meter manufacturers and leading power sector conglomerates have participated in the pre-bid meetings and are likely to submit interest for the same.

This includes infrastructure companies such as Adani, L&T, Robert Bosch, EdF, Tata Power, India Power, and Ashoka Buildcon. Leading meter makers such as Landis Gyr, Schneider, Secure Meters, Anvil Cables, Avon have also participated in the pre-bidding discussions and are likely to place their bids.

The smart meters roll-out is part of the newly launched power distribution reforms scheme of the Centre. The Rs 3 lakh crore Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) aims to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of state-owned discoms/power departments by providing conditional financial assistance.

The scheme has an outlay of Rs 3,03,758 crore with an estimated gross budgetary support from the Central government of Rs 97,631 crore. Out of this, Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated for smart metering infrastructure across the country. Government estimates indicate deployment of 25 crore smart meters for domestic consumers.

The RDSS envisages smart metering on the operational expenditure mode and provides financial support to discoms opting for prepaid smart metering.