Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has announced a partnership with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to provide fully secured internet of things (IoT) enabled advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for distribution companies (DISCOMS) in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The move is in line with the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) under which the government has recently charted out a plan to replace 250 million conventional electric meters with smart meters across India.
Under the partnership, Vi Business has already installed 1.67 million IoT enabled smart meters for DISCOMS. The Vi IoT enabled smart meters have resulted in substantial improvement in monthly meter readings. The deployment of smart meters have helped in improving billing and collection efficiency and has led to huge upside revenue for the DISCOMS thereby improving their financial standing.
Commenting on the partnership, Arvind Nevatia, chief enterprise business officer, Vi, said, “We are delighted to partner with EESL as their advanced metering infrastructure communication partner and contribute to the government of India’s efforts towards the adoption of smart meters. This partnership reiterates Vi Business’s commitment in offering tailor-made, smooth and fully secured IoT solution which enables robust business efficiency and growth. The Vi IoT enabled smart meters minimises human intervention in the overall metering, billing and collection process and helps reduce theft by identifying loss pockets. We look forward to a successful partnership with EESL and DISCOMS.”
Meanwhile, Arun Kumar Mishra, CEO, EESL, said, “EESL is deploying India’s first large-scale smart metering project under the Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP), in states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, New Delhi and Andaman. EESL has taken IoT services from Vi for the network connectivity in DISCOM of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. EESL smart meters are transforming India’s energy landscape by increasing billing and collection efficiency; reducing operation and maintenance costs; enhancing the quality of services and providing consumers with demand side management (DSM) options. As on date, 16.7 lacs smart meters have successfully been installed, with 5.16 lacs for DISCOMs in Haryana and 11.55 Lacs for DISCOMs in Uttar Pradesh. These smart meters are being installed on Vi’s loT technology, which delivers secure and quality communication services. It has led to huge revenue upside and improved financial standing for the DISCOMs in these regions. EESL is extremely satisfied to have Vodafone Idea Limited as its AMI communications partner. We look forward to replicating these successful stories on AMI projects, pan India.”
