Smart metering: KSEB upgrading its testing and metering labs

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The KSEB management has cleared a ₹4.85 crore proposal to upgrade the TMRs at Angamaly, Thirumala, Pallom, Shoranur and Kannur. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is upgrading its testing and metering (TMR) labs in five locations across the State to handle the testing of smart meters which are being introduced among electricity consumers in a phased manner.

The KSEB management has cleared a ₹4.85 crore proposal to upgrade the TMRs at Angamaly, Thirumala, Pallom, Shoranur and Kannur.

The KSEB is installing 3 lakh smart meters under Phase-1 of the Smart Metering Project. The meters are meant to undergo testing at these five TMR labs accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

According to the KSEB, these labs lack adequate facilities for smart-meter testing at present. The decision to go for an upgrade was taken on the advice given by a committee which looked into the matter.

In August 2025, the KSEB had commenced the roll-out under an alternative implementation model approved by the then Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The first meters with pre-paid billing mode were piloted on two government connections under the Puthenchantha electrical section limits in Thiruvananthapuram and seven feeder meters at the 220 kV substation at Kalamassery in Ernakulam.

In the first phase, KSEB is planning to install 3 lakh prepaid meters. In addition to government offices, system meters of the KSEB and high-tension (HT) consumers are being shifted to smart metering. By March this year, 1.72 lakh connections had shifted to smart meters.

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