Jaipur, August 2025: A major controversy has erupted after Genus Power Infrastructure Limited, a company blacklisted by the Goa Electricity Department in August 2024, was recently awarded a massive ₹10,000 crore smart meter installation tender in Rajasthan. The development has raised questions over the transparency of the tendering process, the due diligence of government agencies, and the implications for India’s ambitious smart metering programme.
Blacklisting in Goa: The Background
On August 5, 2024, the Government of Goa’s Electricity Department, through its Chief Electrical Engineer, issued an official order blacklisting Genus Power Infrastructure Limited and HPL Electric & Power Limited. The order explicitly barred both companies’ energy meters from being used in any project funded by either the State or the Central Government.
The blacklisting order (No. CEE/Tech/Plg/Vendor/2024-25/504) cited serious concerns over performance and quality, although detailed technical reasons were not mentioned in the publicly available notice. The order was issued with the concurrence of the state government through the Honorable Minister (Power) vide order U.O no. 3327 dated August 2, 2024.
As per standard practice, such blacklisting should have prevented the company from participating in government funded projects in other states unless specifically cleared or the blacklisting period expired.
Tender in Rajasthan: A Big Win Amid Controversy
Fast forward to 2025, Genus Power Infrastructure Limited has now been awarded a ₹10,000 crore contract for installing smart meters in Rajasthan. This tender is part of the state’s push to modernise electricity distribution, reduce transmission losses, and implement prepaid metering.
The project is massive in scale covering millions of electricity connections across urban and rural Rajasthan. Smart meters are central to India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), and Rajasthan’s execution is one of the largest state level rollouts in the country.
While the tender award marks a huge business win for the company, it has sparked political backlash and public scrutiny, given the Goa blacklisting just a year earlier.
Concerns Over Tender Process
Critics, including consumer rights activists and some opposition leaders, have pointed out that government tenders especially for large scale infrastructure projects must involve strict vendor vetting.
Key questions being raised include:
Was the Goa blacklisting known to Rajasthan authorities?
The order was public and available through official channels, making it hard to overlook.
Did the company appeal or overturn the blacklisting before bidding?
There is no public record indicating that the Goa government withdrew its order.
Does the tender evaluation process consider inter state blacklisting?
Procurement rules differ between states, and unless explicitly barred nationally, companies can still bid elsewhere.
About Genus Power Infrastructure Limited
Genus Power Infrastructure Limited is one of India’s largest manufacturers of electricity meters, including smart meters, prepaid meters, and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solutions. Headquartered in Jaipur, the company has supplied meters to multiple state electricity boards and private utilities.
The company has been a key player in India’s push for smart grid technology, often securing large contracts due to its scale, manufacturing capacity, and competitive pricing.
Possible Legal and Administrative Ramifications
Legal experts suggest that while blacklisting in one state may not automatically apply nationwide, large government contracts especially those involving Central Government funded schemes like RDSS should have uniform vendor eligibility guidelines.
If it emerges that the Goa blacklisting is still valid, Rajasthan’s tender decision could be challenged in court or reviewed by the Central Government.
The Larger Picture: India’s Smart Meter Push
India aims to install 250 million smart meters nationwide under RDSS by 2026. The technology promises:
- Real time electricity usage monitoring.
- Reduced billing errors.
- Prepaid metering options.
- Lower transmission and distribution losses.
However, the sector has seen multiple controversies over pricing, quality, and vendor selection. The Genus Power Infrastructure Limited case could become a test for how state governments balance technical competence, past performance, and accountability in awarding large contracts.
Stay Connected with The News Drill for or more updates on India’s power sector reforms, policy changes, and tender news.
Contact us: contact@thenewsdrill.com
Submit tip or story: editor@thenewsdrill.com
