First tender for new electric meters at the beginning of year 2010 - project worth 600m EUR

The Director General of "Electric Power Company of Serbia" (EPS), Dragomir Marković, has announced that the first tender for procurement of new electric meters for remote reading system will be announced at the beginning of year 2010.

- The value of the project is about 600m EUR, and the procedure for introduction of the remote control system and replacement of electric meters will last until year 2016 - he said to the press.

Marković said that the initial funds for the first year would, most probably, be provided from the loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

- The introduction of the remote reading system is often mistaken for the replacement of old electric meters. About 600,000 old electric meters are replaced in Serbia every year - Marković pointed out and added that there were total of about 3.3m electric meters in Serbia.

- This is a very expensive project, but it is also very profitable - the Director General of EPS pointed out.

Marković added that the feasibility study for the project for introduction of new electric meters and replacement of the old ones would be made in 2009.

The Director General of EPS, Dragomir Marković, estimated that Serbia was not late with the realization of that project since, for example, Sweden had introduced that system in August 2008, while France was introducing at the moment.

Elektroprivreda Srbije ad Beograd

EBRD Evropska banka za obnovu i razvoj Beograd

Dragan Marković