Omsk expands smart metering to combat power theft and streamline billing

Omsk is expanding its Automated Commercial Electricity Metering System (AC EMS) to reduce power theft and streamline billing. The latest phase of the project will cover the Southern, Northern, and Left-Bank districts of the city’s electrical grid. OmskElectro, the local energy provider, has awarded a new contract worth 54 million rubles ($600,000) for the work. The AC EMS was first introduced in 2015, with steady progress made since then. The system allows remote monitoring of electricity usage and can disconnect delinquent customers without on-site visits. Funding for the project peaked between 2019 and 2020, when hundreds of millions of rubles were allocated annually.

Most of the new meters will be installed in Omsk’s Kirovsky administrative district. Earlier contracts specified that the system targeted residential buildings, though this detail is missing from the latest 2026 tender. Omsk also produces its own smart meters, with the MIR Research and Production Association being one of the local manufacturers. In 2019, the city’s Popov Radio Plant (Relero) patented a gas meter with remote monitoring, showing broader interest in automated utility systems.

The expanded AC EMS aims to improve efficiency and cut losses from electricity theft. OmskElectro’s latest contract ensures further deployment across key districts. The system’s remote disconnection feature is expected to reduce operational costs and unpaid bills.