THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Electricity consumers in Odisha
will now have the option to purchase approved power meters from the open
market, Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo informed the Assembly on
Wednesday.
Replying to a question from BJP
MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, the Minister said electricity distribution companies
have been directed to allow availability of approved smart meters in the open
market so that consumers can exercise choice instead of depending solely on
utility-provided meters.
He clarified that when meters
are installed by Tata Power, their cost is recovered through a monthly rental
mechanism from consumers. The rent is fixed by the Odisha Electricity
Regulatory Commission during tariff determination proceedings. At present, the
monthly meter rent stands at ₹40 for single-phase static meters, ₹60 for LT
single-line smart meters, and ₹150 for three-phase smart meters.
The move is expected to enhance
consumer choice and bring greater transparency in meter procurement while
retaining regulatory oversight on pricing.
