{
  "id": 11672071,
  "title": "Smart metering: KSEB upgrading its testing and metering labs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/smart-metering-kseb-upgrading-its-testing-and-metering-labs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T11:26:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/smart-metering-kseb-upgrading-its-testing-and-metering-labs/article71540424.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is enhancing its testing and metering (TMR) facilities in five locations across the state to accommodate the installation of smart meters among electricity consumers. A ₹4.85 crore proposal has been approved to upgrade the TMR labs at Angamaly, Thirumala, Pallom, Shoranur, and Kannur. The KSEB will deploy 3 lakh smart meters during Phase-1 of the Smart Metering Project, with these devices requiring testing at the five NABL-accredited labs. Presently, the labs lack sufficient resources for smart-meter testing, prompting the decision to upgrade. This move came after a committee reviewed the situation, following the KSEB's initiation of the smart meter rollout in August 2025 under an alternative implementation model approved by the then Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Initially, 3 lakh prepaid meters will be installed, with plans to include system meters of the KSEB and high-tension (HT) consumers by the end of the first phase. As of March, 1.72 lakh connections had already transitioned to smart meters.",
  "summary": "The KSEB is installing 3 lakh smart meters under Phase-1 of the Smart Metering Project.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kerala State Electricity Board upgrading testing and metering labs",
    "₹4.85 crore allocated for five NABL-accredited lab upgrades",
    "3 lakh smart meters to be deployed in Phase-1 of project"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}