Nepal Begins Digital NEA Campaign, Launches Smart Meter Installation!

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has initiated the Digital NEA Campaign by the installation of smart meters at domestic households.

Barshaman Pun, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, initiated the work by replacing the old single-phase meter with a smart meter in Ward no. 3 building of Budhanilkanth Municipality in Mannikhatar.

Currently, there are over 5 million traditional single-phase meters at domestic households. In the first phase, the NEA is set to replace around 100,000 traditional meters in the houses at the Ratna Park and Maharajgunj Distribution Centers.

The smart meters will provide real-time information to the consumers about their power consumption and enables two-way communication with the utility and home. The meter readings can be monitored by the consumer and the NEA remotely through the internet.

ALSO READ | Nepal Electricity Makes Highest NPR 10 Billion Profit

With smart meters:

• The NEA can cut the lines of those consumers who do not pay tariffs
• The leakage caused by the traditional meter readers can be stopped
• Electricity theft can be reduced drastically
• The consumer will get meter reading without human intervention

“The installation of the smart meter can improve efficiency and modernize the service provided by the state. This is a milestone towards meeting the government’s target to make prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepali,” said Minister Pun while addressing the program.

Minister Pun added that the NEA is working to beautify cities by installing an underground distribution system.

“As there will be post-paid and pre-paid options in the smart meter, the tariff can be paid as per the wishes of a consumer through an online bill,” said Kul Man Ghising, Managing Director of NEA.

ALSO READ | Nepali Tourism Entrepreneurs Urge 50% waiver on Electricity Bills

Under the first phase program, the NEA has replaced 8,222 traditional Time of Day (TOD) meters with smart meters. Under the second phase, the NEA will install around 125,000 smart meters.

Meanwhile, the NEA has already started the tender process to replace 400,000 traditional electricity meters with smart meters in Kathmandu Valley.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar.com for the latest news updates in Nepal!