Tamil Nadu government canceled the smart meter tender given to Adani Energy Solutions
New Delhi| Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Corporation has canceled the global tender issued to purchase smart meters citing high costs quoted by Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL). Tenders were issued in the form of four packages in August 2023 to provide smart meters under the Central Government’s re-established distribution area scheme.
A source reported that AESL, a BSE listed company, had made the lowest bid for Package 1 of the tender covering eight districts, including Chennai, and that it involved the installation of over 82 lakh smart meters.
On December 27, 2024, the tender was cancelled, as the costs quoted from AESL were reportedly high. He said that there is a possibility of re-issuance of tender. Without giving detailed information, he said that tenders for three other packages have also been cancelled.
This step of the government has come in the wake of the controversy related to Adani Group promoter industrialist Gautam Adani. He is accused of being part of a scheme to bribe Indian authorities with more than US$250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore) in exchange for favorable terms for solar power contracts. US prosecutors had charged Adani and some others in connection with the case. The company has denied the allegations.
