Fri Feb 21 17:11:12 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Smart Meter Project Faces Opposition Amidst Cost Concerns
**Chennai, February 22, 2025** – The planned installation of smart meters across Tamil Nadu is facing significant opposition from retired electricity officials and union members, who argue the project represents a massive waste of public funds. While consumers hope the smart meters will prevent inflated bills caused by delayed meter readings, critics point to the exorbitant cost and limited benefits.
The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) recently cancelled a tender for smart meters from Adani Energy Solutions, delaying the automation of power bill generation. While a pilot project in Chennai’s T. Nagar received positive feedback, the overall project’s feasibility is now in question.
The main point of contention is the cost. Installing smart meters for all three crore domestic consumers would cost a staggering ₹30,000 crore, according to critics. S. Gandhi, president of the Power Engineers Society of Tamilnadu (PESOT), highlights that the Energy Department is already grappling with a ₹3.20 lakh crore loss. He argues that smart meters, costing ₹14,400 each compared to the current ₹1,600 bi-directional meters, would only benefit the 1.5 crore consumers using over 200 units of electricity – a fraction of the total consumer base.
Consumer activist T. Sadagopan, however, supports the project, emphasizing that smart meters would eliminate the problem of inflated bills due to delayed meter readings, a current issue affecting many consumers. The 2022 power tariff hike further exacerbates the financial burden on consumers, making the efficiency of smart meters a highly debated topic. The future of the smart meter project remains uncertain as the debate over its cost-effectiveness continues.
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