Lucknow: Around 1.73 lakh smart meters installed across the state are currently offline and unable to communicate with the central system, with Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (Kesco) emerging as the worst performer, according to a review conducted by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).The July 14 review found that 1,73,163 of the state’s 92.9 lakh commissioned smart meters (1.88%) were non-communicating as on July 10, with Kesco accounting for 55,049 such meters, or 31.64% of its installed base (1.76 lakh), the highest among all power utilities.The review categorises these cases based on the duration of communication failure, with over 23,000 meters remaining offline for over five months.Around 88,000 meters remained offline for less than one month.Notably, UPPCL data also revealed that 59,709 smart meters never communicated after its installation.Out of the total, 12,710 were those smart meters that were installed over five months ago and are yet to transmit data.Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL) recorded a non-communication rate of 3.16% (70,458 out of 22.43 lakh), followed by Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PuVVNL) at 1.07% (33,164 out of 31.34 lakh), Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (MVVNL) at 0.68% (13,841 out of 20.65 lakh), while Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) reported the lowest level at 0.04% (651 out of 16.71 lakh).The review forms part of UPPCL’s periodic monitoring of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project, which tracks operational parameters such as meter communication, installation progress, billing performance and system health across discoms. Smart meters are expected to transmit consumption data in real time, enabling remote meter reading, accurate billing and improved network monitoring.A senior UPPCL official told TOI that the figure of 1.73 lakh reflects meters that were unable to communicate at the scheduled time should not be treated as permanently faulty or non-functional.“Temporary telecom, network or consumer end issues can disrupt communication, but billing continues through alternate process, and pending cases are tracked for rectification,” he said.Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairperson and state advisory committee member Avadhesh Kumar Verma said if a significant number of meters were unable to communicate, it could affect the project’s objectives of real time data availability, accurate billing, transparency and improved consumer services.
