Hyderabad: The southern discom is moving slowly in implementing a smart grid project that will alert customers when they are using large quantities of power so that they can optimise consumption.
The Rs 40-crore pilot project, partly funded by the Centre, has to be completed by the year-end. The Centre has released its share of Rs 21 crore.
The southern discom will install smart meters free for all categories of power consumers. These meters alert subscribers when they are drawing large quantities of power.
The discom has asked the Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) to supply 10,000 smart meters. The smart meter for a single-phase line costs Rs 7,000 and for a three-phase line Rs 11,000.
According to the Union power ministry, the TS government has to provide smart meters to 11,904 consumers under the project. It said the discom had completed the field survey but was running behind schedule in implementing the project.
Discom director (projects & IT) T. Srinivas said there was a delay in the supply of smart meters by ECIL. He said work on the project was going on, and hoped it could be completed on schedule.
