Nagpur: Over 5.62 lakh electricity consumers in Mahavitaran’s Nagpur circle are equipped with smart time-of-day (TOD) meters, enabling accurate billing and offering tariff discounts for day-time power consumption.According to Mahavitaran, a total of 5,62,186 smart meters are installed across the circle so far. Of these, 3,01,313 meters were installed in Nagpur city division, 1,52,571 in Nagpur rural division, and 1,08,302 in Wardha division.The smart TOD meters, based entirely on digital technology, automatically transmit consumption data to the utility’s central system, eliminating manual readings. Officials said this will end issues related to average or estimated billing. The meters follow the existing postpaid monthly billing system, and consumers are not required to pay any additional charges or deposits for installation.Nagpur circle chief engineer Dilip Dodke has appealed to consumers not to believe rumours regarding the meter replacement drive, stating that replacing old meters is a routine process. The project is being implemented with central govt grants, and no loan burden was passed on to consumers, officials added.A key feature of the smart meters is the TOD-based tariff benefit. Under a decision implemented from July 1, 2025, domestic consumers using electricity between 9am and 5pm are eligible for a discount ranging from 80 paise to Re1 per unit. For instance, a consumer with a monthly usage of 100 units could see the bill reduced from around Rs875 to approximately Rs784 if a significant portion of consumption falls within the discounted time slot.Consumers can also monitor their hourly electricity usage through Mahavitaran’s mobile application, allowing better control over consumption patterns.Officials said the smart meters will be particularly useful for households installing rooftop solar systems under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, as the system supports net metering.Mahavitaran said the initiative aims to enhance transparency in billing and promote efficient electricity usage across the region.
