Tepco to hold bids for 17mn smart metres
A government body that is helping the company with compensation payments from the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year has urged the firm to do away with the current dependence on affiliated suppliers for its equipment and materials. The two are now working to put together a business programme intended to prevent Tepco from becoming insolvent from the heavy costs associated with the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years following the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The government fund is expected to put Tepco under a temporary state control to keep it afloat. As part of the programme, Tepco will install smart metres which monitor electricity use and send readings to utilities immediately, helping to reduce power usage. The utility plans to hold the first tender in autumn, targeting about 3 million smart metres, it said. Copyright Reuters, 2012