‘Smart meters’ soon to check power theft in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: While power distribution companies are incurring huge losses owing to unbilled consumption and unlawful usage, smart meters will soon be installed in Odisha towns to check power theft and meter tampering.

The state government is all set to launch the installation of smart meters on pilot basis in Sambalpur and Rourkela towns. For Sambalpur, the government will procure 4500 prepaid meters.

“The main purpose of installing smart meter is to put a check on meter tampering. The prepaid smart meters will have digital cards which can be recharged similar to mobile phones, DTH service etc. We can detect tampering and the suspect’s meter can be stopped remotely,” Energy Dibya Shankar Mishra said.

Based on the outcome in these towns, the model would be replicated across the state.

Worth mentioning, smart meters consist of two units: the metering device, which is with the distribution or utility company and a display unit that is installed at the consumer’s house. The distribution firms can detect unusually heavy demand, which may point to tapping of wires.

Governments of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka New Delhi and Puducherry have already implemented this.