India has a large installed base of energy meters manufactured by Indian and international companies. Energy meters, also called electricity meters, are widely used in industry, household, etc. It is also widely used for utility services. Installation of correct energy meters is must for consumers to ensure that they are billed correctly. Electronics Bazaar carried out a survey in an endeavour to acknowledge and applaud the players of this industry. We contacted various test and measurement firms, utilities companies, associations in the electronics domain and customers of energy meter to come up with a list of the leading energy meter brands. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it provides a glimpse into India’s leading energy meter companies. The lisiting has been done in alphabetical order. We hope our initiative will be beneficial to our readers.
By Sandhya Malhotra & Rebika Singam
MOST PREFERRED ENERGY METER COMPANIES IN INDIA
Listed below are the 10 most preferred companies suggested by informant companies. They are chosen on the basis of their product quality, distribution network, customer satisfaction, etc. As mentioned earlier, the companies have not been ranked, but listed alphabetically.
• Bentec Electricals & Electronics Pvt Ltd
• Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd
• HPL India Ltd
• Itron India Pvt Ltd
• Landis+Gyr Ltd
• Larsen & Toubro Ltd
• Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd
• Secure Meters Ltd
• Superior Products Industries
• Towa Engineering Works
Bentec Electricals & Electronics Pvt Ltd
Anup Bhartia, managing director
According to Bentec’s Website (www.bentecindia.com), Bentec is situated in one of the industrial areas in Kolkata, having started business two decades back. In 1988, the company started manufacturing its own KWH meters of different ranges, viz. 2.5 – 5 A up to 40 A.
Bentec is an ISO 9001:2000 company engaged in manufacturing different types of electrical and electronics products, with a focus on customer satisfaction and continuous R&D. Bentec caters to power utilities, OEMs, electricians and also individual customers.
The company’s product line includes energy meters, protection systems (MCB, RCCB), isolators (ELCB+MCB), tiny trips, switchgears, distribution systems, wires and cables. Bentec products are ISI certified and meet the rigorous standards of various testing labs like ERTL and CPRI.
Contact Details: 150 Upen Banerjee Road, Kolkata-700060; Ph:033-24014406/4211; Fax: 24017486; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.betecindia.com
Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd
Established in 1995, Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd, an ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified company, is a leading manufacturer and service provider in the power sector. It caters to three main product categories, which include meters and metering solutions, turnkey solutions in power distribution and transmission projects power projects, and power backup/conversion (UPS/inverters) products. The core metering business includes designing and manufacturing multi-functional, programmable, intelligent single phase, three phase and CT operated electronic energy meters with advanced in built security and anti-tamper features.
The product range includes DLMS and STS compliant meters, grid meters, agricultural meters, audit meters, substation meters, key pad based prepaid (or prepayment) meters, etc. “With an installed capacity of over 6,500,000 meters, Genus is one of the leading manufacturers of EEMs in India with a substantial market share,” says Ishwar Chand Agarwal.
Contact details: SPL-3, RIICO Industrial Area, Tonk Road, Sitapura, Jaipur 302022; Ph: 0141-3911400/500, 2770003/4/9; Fax: 2700319/2771355; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; Website: www.genus.in
HPL India Ltd
Founded in 1956, HPL Group is a major player in the Indian electrical industry with a commitment to state-of-art technology and the manufacture of world class products. HPL Group has been serving Indian industry since the last 54 years with time tested, reliable and proven products. HPL’s range exhibits superiority in quality and performance, and has an edge over competition in the field of low voltage switchgear and protection devices, metering and energy management systems, CFLs, luminaries, wires and cables.
HPL has nine manufacturing facilities located at Gurgaon, Noida, Sonepat and Jabli (HP). The factories are well equipped with the latest technology to manufacture products.
“The company is all set to cross a turnover of Rs 10 billion in the current financial year. It has 69 marketing offices spread out across the country with 1200 authorised dealers and over 15,000 retailers,” says Lalit Seth.
Contact details: 1/21 Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 002; Ph: 011-23234411 / 4811; Fax: 23232639; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.hplindia.com
Itron India Pvt Ltd
Founded in 1977, Itron is a listed company and its stock is traded on the NASDAQ. It is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. The company is the world’s leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on its technology to optimise the delivery and use of energy and water.
Its products include electricity, gas, water and heat meters; data collection and communication systems; automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), etc.
“Our unique proposition of providing end-to-end solutions, makes us a leading provider of intelligent metering technology and solutions for energy and water utilities worldwide,” says Sanjay Seth.
Contact details: C-7, Sector 3, Noida – 201301, Uttar Pradesh; Ph: 0120 4656699; Fax: 0120-4656677/4656688; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.itron.com
Landis+Gyr Ltd
Landis+Gyr, headquartered in Switzerland, is the leading enterprise in the world for electricity metering systems and solutions. It has a strong presence in 31 countries. Its operations involve over 5000 people with a global turnover of around US$ 1.5 billion. In keeping with its global mission to ‘manage energy better’, L+G has launched a massive plan to take its Indian business to the next level.
Besides its two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Joka (Kolkata) and in Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), the company has also established its Global Research & Development Centre at Noida.
According to Sandip Mukherjee, the Indian meter market will present substantial opportunities for consolidation and more FDI. With the government’s focus on R-APDRP and ATC loss reduction, and smart grids around the corner, metering will attract a lot of attention.
Contact details: JK Millennium Centre, 3rd Floor, 46 D Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071, West Bengal, India; Ph: 033-3051590004 (5 lines); Fax: 033 30515905; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.landisgyr.com
Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T)
The company was founded in Mumbai in 1938 by two Danish engineers, Henning Holck-Larsen and Soren Kristian Toubro. One division of the firm, the L&T Electrical & Electronics Division (EBG), is a major international manufacturer of a wide range of electrical and electronics products and systems.
In the electrical segment, the company holds the leadership position in India for low tension switchgears, and is rapidly establishing itself in international markets. L&T also manufactures custom engineered switchboards for industrial sectors like power, refineries, petrochemicals and cement. In the electronics segment, L&T offers a wide range of meters and provides complete control and automation systems for industries.
A strong, customer focused approach and the constant quest for the best quality has enabled the company to attain and sustain the leadership position in its major lines of business, for seven decades.
Contact details: L&T House, Ballard Estate, P O Box 278, Mumbai 400001, India; Ph: 022-67525656; Fax: 6752 5858; Website: www.larsentoubro.com, www.LNTEBG.com
Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd
Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd (a 100 per cent subsidiary of Schneider Electric Industries SAS) was established in 1995. The firm, Conzerv Systems, was taken over by Schneider Electric in 2009 and its products and services now form part of Schneider Electric’s unique and comprehensive offer portfolio in the field of energy efficiency, encompassing measurement, power quality correction, automation, and monitoring. Conzerv has been a recognised leader in providing energy efficiency solutions in the Indian market.
It has been in the business of consulting, training and building products for energy efficiency catering to industrial and commercial users of power.
The company has pioneered the design and manufacture of digital energy meters in India, and established as the market leader with proven solutions for energy audits and measurement.
Contact details: 9th Floor, DLF Building No 10, Tower C, DLF Cyber City, Phase II, Gurgaon 122002; Ph: 0124-3940400; Fax: 0124-4222036; Email: [email protected] Website: www.schneider-electric.co.in
Secure Meters Ltd
Sanjaya Singhal, managing director
Secure Meters Ltd is credited with pioneering the manufacture of electronic meters in India back in 1988. With a small beginning, the company grew to a $150 million group with diverse interests in electronic metering, software, revenue management systems, home energy controls, IT and IT enabled services for utility companies and other industries across the globe. Its expertise covers the entire energy stream, from generation to final consumption. It is working towards building a future that uses energy responsibly. Its solutions include smart grid metering and intelligent heating controls, targeted at markets ranging from Australia to the UK. Its products are extensively used in R&D, post sales service, grid metering, and thermostatic controls. “At Secure, our guiding philosophy is that, ‘there is always a better way’. This philosophy is the inspiration for our innovation—to challenge the status quo and search for what’s radically new. This quest is not just a passion for doing things a new; it is driven by a quiet sense of responsibility…” says Sanjaya Singhal.
Contact details: P O Box 30, Pratapnagar Industrial Area, Udaipur 313003; Ph: 0294 2492300 (5 lines); Fax: 294 2492310; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.securetogether.com
Superior Products Industry (SPI)
Incorporated in1998, SPI is an ISO9001-2000 company involved in the manufacture and supply of digital power and energy meters, and energy management systems. It provides single phase/three phase single energy meters, dual energy meters and paid energy meters with prepaid and postpaid options.
SPI makes energy meters that conform to BIS standards and are ISI marked. These also meet anti-tempering features as desired by state electricity boards. It has two manufacturing plants in India and R&D centres. “Our main thrust at present is on residential and commercial sectors. We have developed very innovative energy control and management solutions for them,” says Mahesh Kumar Yadav.
Contact details: Plot No 32-33, SMIE, Phase II, 20/2 Mathura Road, Opp YMCA Collage, Faridabad 121006, Haryana; Ph:0129-3255647; Fax: 4087647; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.superiorproducts.tradeindia.com
Towa Engineering Works
Established in 1975, Towa Engineering Works is an ISO 9001 certified company. It is a leading manufacturer and exporter of panel meters and switchboard instruments. Its products include volt meters, ampere meters, moving iron meters, digital panel meters, scientific instruments, digital frequency meters and switchboard instruments, etc. Moreover, the company is also venturing into energy meters and digital panel meters (DPMs) in December, 2010, at its state-of-the-art R&D centre. Its energy meters and DPMs will be user friendly, highly accurate and manufactured with the best SMT machines, calibrated on highly accurate test benches.
“We are planning to target electricity boards, turnkey power projects and switchgear industry. Our R&D team includes one of the best engineers in India having a huge technical experience in meters and metering solutions industry,” says R S Miglani.
Contact details: M-4, 1st Floor, Vishal Market, West Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi – 110009; Mobile: 9811463033; Ph: 011-27658351/47067472; Fax: 27658351; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.Towaengg.com
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