Lucknow, Nov. 24 -- The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) is pressing ahead with its smart metering drive aimed at plugging revenue leakages.

About 45.72 lakh (4.57 million) smart meters have been installed across the state so far (till October). This is 17% of the total 2.7 crore targeted under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

According to UPPCL director (commercial) Prashant Verma, smart meters were being installed in phases, targeting big cities first.

"Also, new connections are being given only in prepaid mode," he said, adding that the existing smart meters are being converted into prepaid mode without replacing them.

As per UPPCL data, Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd, which covers eastern...