Lok Sabha Question No. 2450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Installation of Smart Meters
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2450

## ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS

†2450. SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  total  number  of  smart  meters  installed  in  Gujarat, district-wise; and
- (b) the details of criteria set for ensuring quality management for installing
- the smart meters?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) :   Total,  23,760  no.  of  Smart  Meters  have  been  installed  in  Naroda  circle area  of  Ahmedabad  district,  Gujarat  under  Smart  Grid  Pilot  Project.  Further, under  the  recently  launched  Revamped  Distribution  Sector  Scheme  (RDSS), financial  assistance  is  being  provided  to  the  eligible  DISCOMs  including DISCOMs of Gujarat, for installation of Smart Meters. Details of Smart Meters sanctioned for the State of Gujarat under RDSS are at Annexure.
- (b) :    Under  RDSS,  Project  Management  Agency  (PMA)  is  to  be  appointed  by DISCOMs.    The  role  of  the  PMA  includes  quality  assurance.  Further,  an independent Third Party Quality Monitoring Agency (TPQMA) is to be appointed by  the  Nodal  Agencies  (REC  and  PFC)  to  carry  out  concurrent  inspection  of works implemented under RDSS. Government Budgetary Support (GBS) for PMA and TPQMA will be provided as per the scheme guidelines.

In  addition  to  above,  a  Model  Standard  Bidding  Document  (SBD)  for implementation  of  Smart  Metering  projects  in  the  country  has  been  prepared and  released  for  adoption  by  the  States/  DISCOMs  for  nationwide  rollout  of smart  meters. The  SBD  covers  detailed clauses for supply, installation, integration,  testing  and  commissioning  of  Smart  Meters  as  well  as  for  tests, inspections and management of the Quality Assurance/ Quality Control of Smart Meters. The major clause of SBD regarding Quality Assurance is as under:

- i. Testing during Development Phase: Type testing is done to ensure that the  design,  process  of  manufacture  and  general  conformity  of  the product are as per standards.
- ii. Quality  Assurance  and  Quality  Control  Program:  A  Quality  Assurance Program comprising details about the specific quality control procedure including Organizational structure is to be submitted by the AMISP.
- iii. Factory Acceptance Test (FAT): FAT is conducted on all the equipment that includes Verification of all functional characteristics and requirements  specified.  It  also  covers  Inspection  &  verification  of  all construction, wiring, labelling, documentation, and completeness of the hardware.
- iv. Field Installation and Integration Test (FIIT): After successful completion  of  FAT,  FIIT  testing  is  performed  to  ensure  successful operation of the installed smart metering system.
- v. Site Acceptance Test (SAT): SAT is conducted to test the functioning of the complete system including cloud data Centre and its hardware and software  components  along  with  supply,  installation  &  integration  of Smart  Meters/  DCUs  (along  with  its  related  hardware  and  software equipment).
- vi. Service  Level  Agreements  (SLAs): SLAs  are  defined  to  manage  the system performance during Operations Phase.

**************

ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2450 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2023 **************

Smart meters sanctioned for Gujarat under RDSS:

| Sl. No.   | DISCOMs                                     | Pre-paid smart consumer meter   | Smart DT meter   | Smart Feeder meter   | Total Meters   |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------|----------------------|----------------|
| 1         | Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) | 40,78,120                       | 82,336           |                      | 41,60,456      |
| 2         | Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL)  | 32,99,991                       | 56,129           |                      | 33,56,120      |
| 3         | Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) | 55,83,509                       | 1,09,130         |                      | 56,92,639      |
| 4         | Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL)   | 35,20,251                       | 52,892           | 5,229                | 35,78,372      |
|           | Total                                       | 1,64,81,871                     | 3,00,487         | 5,229                | 1,67,87,587    |

Currently,  the  DISCOMs  are  in  process  of  tendering  and  award  of  sanctioned  smart metering works.

***************