Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) is all set to integrate its proposed Smart metre project with the ongoing Andhra Pradesh Fiber Grid (APFG) project. Leveraging the APFG would mark the Discom’s attempt to dramatically prune the estimates of the smart metre project. While the smart metre costs the discom about Rs 8,000, integrating the ordinary metres to APFG by incorporating a relatively new technology in every metre with an additional Ethernet socket(s) would only take about Rs 1,000 for each metre. It would also have far-reaching implications as the metres would be connected through the fiber grid servers.

Using fibre optic network as a backbone for the smart metres projects is said to be more resilient than others and provides the lightning-fast network for the discom. Using optic fibre for the smart metres would also eliminate the RF exposure. The proposed smart metres would have an array of new features, including remote connect and disconnect, pre-paid/post-paid configuration, recharging facility, alerts to the consumer, remotely configurable pricing, power limits, automated metre reading and six months internal data storage of all the metre parameters.

Executive director (Quality Control and World Bank Projects), APEPDCL, B. Ramesh Prasad, said “Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to look into the possibility of integrating the ordinary metres with the fibre grid project to convert them into ‘Smart metres’. In the first phase, about 2,000 metres would be connected to the fiber grid in Visakhapatnam. This would help the discom dramatically cut down the price of the project,” Mr. Prasad added.

“The data-modelling techniques of Smart metres can provide pinpoint accuracy on consumption patterns. The consumers can also monitor and modify their usage patterns with these converted Smart metres in their homes. The two-way flow of communication as well as power equips us with reliable communication infrastructure. Besides putting an end to metre tampering, power thefts, distribution losses and irregularities in metre reading, the Smart metres don’t require manual support in billing. The pre-paid connections through Smart metres would also help improve the inflow of cash and reduce operational costs,” Mr. Ramesh further added.