Smart Meter installation begins at govt offices, Ministers' homes: Power Minister

To enhance transparency in electricity billing and improve consumer services, the Tripura government has initiated the installation of smart electric meters at key locations, including the residences and offices of cabinet ministers and 2,700 employees of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).

Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday announced that the installation process has already begun with the Chief Minister’s official residence and chamber, and will gradually be extended to all government departments. Two dedicated offices will be set up to monitor the operations and performance of these smart meters across the state.

“Tripura has more than 10.26 lakh power consumers, of whom 90,000 have already shifted to smart meters. In the next one week, 2,700 TSECL employees will also have them installed at home,” Nath said.

Highlighting the benefits, the minister said smart meters offer accurate billing, eliminate manual meter reading, and allow consumers to track daily electricity usage through a mobile app or web portal. In case of outages, alerts will be sent automatically to TSECL for faster response.

“These meters ensure no inflated or estimated bills. Consumers will pay only for what they use. Also, smart meters double up as net meters for solar power users, saving nearly ₹5,000 in installation costs,” Nath added.

He also informed that under a joint initiative of the Centre and the state government, smart meters, 11KV feeders, and distribution transformers are being installed free of cost.

Meanwhile, tenders for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on underground power cabling in Agartala have been finalized. The DPR is expected to be completed in three months, with work beginning in October. Similar infrastructure upgrades will be gradually undertaken in Khumulwng, Udaipur, and Dharmanagar, the minister added.