10 northern districts to get prepaid electric meters
A Bangladesh-China joint venture will install smart prepaid meters in 10 northern districts within the next 10 months as part of government efforts to improve services, reduce waste and increase revenue collection.
The districts are Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Saidpur and Nilphamari.
Some 139,448 meters and 839 data collection units, including advanced metering infrastructure systems, will be installed under a Tk 414.82 crore deal.
According to a statement of the power division, the equipment will ensure transparency, online real-time data access and easy bill collection and payment from anywhere in the world.
There are around three crore electricity subscribers in Bangladesh, some 20 lakh of whom have smart prepaid meters.
The deal was inked between Northern Electric Supply Company (Nesco) and the joint venture company, which comprises Shenzhen Star Instrument Co and Oculin Tech BD, at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka yesterday.
Syed Abu Taher, deputy secretary to Nesco, Lu Chun Dan, president of Shenzhen Star Instrument Co, and Sajib Sajid, managing director of Oculin Tech BD, represented their respective entities.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, power, energy and mineral resources adviser to the prime minister; Sultan Ahmed, secretary to the power division; AKM Humayun Kabir, chairman, board of directors, Nesco; and Sayeed Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board, were present.
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