“Meters are the cash cow for discoms”

If the discoms have to become efficient, loss free and healthy, one of the prime requirement for discoms is to set right the criterion of selection of meters.
J K Agarwal, Jt. Managing Director, Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd
  Genus is a pioneer in supply of electronic energy meter way back in 1996 in India and it never looked back since then. Genus went on to develop entire range of advance meters and tailor made metering solutions to mitigate the pain areas of state utilities or discoms. Genus built a strong and innovative R&D, world class manufacturing facility with complete forward and backward integration and by adopting good practices followed by global companies.
Even though the country is expected to have power supply surplus J K Agarwal, Jt. Managing Director, Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd is concerned about few things. He comments, “Even though government data may predict a supply surplus situation, my concern is – a large population is still without electricity. Power cuts are part of their daily life. Some discoms are simply resorting to power cuts as they cannot afford to purchase power even at low rates on the exchanges. Some states have surplus power but still do not supply power round the clock for fear of losses due to low tariffs from residential and agricultural customers. Discoms refuse to increase tariffs in line with costs for whatever reasons, leading to massive losses year after year and continue to be in a state of financial struggle.” 
Healthy discoms   According to Agarwal efficient, loss free (ATC loss) and healthy discoms will only be able to deliver affordable and uninterrupted power. Indian government announced Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) and its sincere implementation by discoms has the potential to become game changer (to turn around highly indebted state power distribution companies, the weakest link in the entire electricity value chain) on bringing out a real transformation of discoms thereby assuring good quality power round the clock.
Meters for healthy discoms Briefing about the companies contribution Agarwal says, “Meters are the cash cow for discoms – if the discoms have to become efficient, loss free and healthy, one of the prime requirement for discoms is to set right the criterion of selection of meters from purely low cost perspective to multiple parameters majorly quality and reliability of the meters.”
Genus provides an entire range of meters and metering solution from residential to AMI solution to discoms. Indian government is now considering replacing all meters with smart meters and Genus is already taking a lead by having implemented a smart grid village project by Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) in Gujarat and other a smart grid pilot by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEB). In addition, the company has developed net meter for grid connected solar system.
Genus will not remain untouched Power addition if rightly done, and with smart meters in place, will ensure availability of quality power at the most optimal price round the clock. “Since good power is the prime requirement for households, commercial establishment, industries, it’s all time availability will surely create globally competitive manufacturers in India and Genus will not remain untouched with this positive development,” he wraps up.