Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 28: Beginning July 1, smart meters will be compulsory for all new and temporary electricity connections in several interior districts of Karnataka. Consumers will be required to pay Rs 4,998 for the installation of smart meters.
According to the guidelines issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), the smart meter mandate will be implemented by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) from July 1.
The rollout will cover Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan, Kodagu, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, and Davanagere districts. Earlier, smart meters were installed in Bengaluru on a pilot basis. The implementation is now being expanded in phases across the state, informed Shivashankar N, managing director of BESCOM.
Though different companies are participating in the tender process, officials from the energy department assured that efforts are being made to ensure uniform pricing for smart meters to avoid discrepancies and issues.
The installation of smart meters in urban areas under BESCOM’s jurisdiction, including Bengaluru city, officially began on February 15, 2025.