Electricity meter new technology: Over the years, changes in technology have changed the look of electricity meters to a great extent, but a government agency in the electricity distribution sector in Indore has kept the various generations of electricity meters in good stead. Offering a glimpse into the evolution of electricity meters, this unique collection ranges from electromechanical induction meters that were used nearly six and a half decades ago to smart digital meters being installed in customers’ homes today.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, foreign meters of four kilograms were in circulation.
Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Public Relations Officer Abdhesh Sharma said that the company’s headquarters laboratory in Pologround area of the city has a collection of electricity meters, where around 20 electricity meters of different generations are stored. The oldest meter in this collection is an electromechanical induction meter, he told PTI. Weighing about four kilograms, this meter was imported from abroad and was in use from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Suspicion of tampering with metal and magnet meters
Awadhesh Sharma said that the company’s collection includes semi electromechanical meters, radio frequency based meters, SIM operated meters and meters with Bluetooth technology. He said the older generation electricity meters used a lot of metal and magnets, which led to the possibility of tampering. In view of this shortage, the next generation of meters will reduce the use of metals and magnets and digital meters will be made of fiber and other materials, Sharma said.
Now is the age of smart digital meters
Sharma also informed that replacement of old generation meters with new generation meters is underway in West Madhya Pradesh and so far around four lakh smart digital meters with state-of-the-art technology have been installed in consumers’ homes. He said that no employee is required to take readings of these meters and the electricity consumption details of the customers are automatically recorded in the control room of the power distribution company, based on which bills are sent to the customers on specific dates of the month.
Smart meters equipped with the ‘Internet of Things’ have boosted revenue
For your information, we inform you that telecom service providers are also installing smart meters at homes. Vodafone Idea Ltd (VI) has joined hands with public sector Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL). The company is working on a project to install 50 lakh smart meters in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. VI and EESL have entered into this partnership for improved metering infrastructure projects for electricity distribution companies in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. According to official data, smart meters equipped with ‘Internet of Things’ have led to significant improvement in monthly meter readings. The installation of smart meters has also helped in increasing the efficiency of billing and collection, thereby increasing the revenue of the power distribution companies tremendously.
