Tata Power’s smart meter testing lab receives NABL accreditation

It is Tata Power’s big step towards improving customer confidence leading to wider usage of energy-saving smart meters in India.

Tata Power’s Smart Meter Testing and Calibration Laboratory, situated in Mumbai, has now been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).  The NABL accreditation will serve as a vital quality assurance for power consumers who wish to install smart meters and thus have better control over their energy consumption.

This milestone accreditation recognises Tata Power’s capability to test smart meters and enable the company to reach out to its consumers to offer reliable testing and accurate calibration services at its fully automated state of the art facility.  This accreditation also authorises Tata Power to extend this support to other utilities in the power industry and further strengthen customer’s confidence and satisfaction. 

NABL is an autonomous body under the Quality Council of India and gives accreditation to laboratories for their technical competence of testing and calibration within the given scope of the laboratory.

Tata Power’s Smart Meter Testing and Calibration Laboratory is a modern laboratory equipped to handle and carry out complete testing of smart meters, including remote connect/disconnect, remote firmware upgradation, meter data communication, tamper event logging along with Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC) testing for smart meters.

Sanjay Banga, President (T&D), Tata Power said, “Our NABL accredited Meter Testing Lab is equipped to test smart meters and monitor meter data communication on a real-time basis. The Lab is a testament to the superior service given to our Mumbai customers. This accreditation will further boost the confidence of customers pertaining to reliable testing and accurate calibration of smart meters.”

Test results from NABL accredited laboratories are acceptable globally and are considered equivalent to accreditations received by MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) partners of International Laboratory Accreditation Corporation, Denmark.  

The data analytics tools that come with smart meters allow customers to view and optimise their electricity consumption in real-time through the customer portal and mobile app. Smart meters also help customer to modify their usage pattern by identifying the source and reason for wastage and thus save their energy bill. Smart meters also capture data on abnormal consumption of energy and alert customers of possible theft or pilferage of electricity.