--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Bihar Sugam Smart Meter" developer_entity: "Secure Controls (UK) Ltd" bundle_id: "com.mysugam.nbpdcl" app_store_id: "6444326341" category: "Utilities" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Free" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS & Android" app_last_updated: "2025-11-03" report_date: "2026-09-15" last_verified: "2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "2.0.0" total_reviews: 15734 overall_rating: 4.8 sentiment: "Frustrated" sentiment_score: 25 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.7 top_praise_theme: "The core utility of the application provides a functional and helpful experience for users" top_complaint_theme: "Frequent authentication errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and managing their energy usage" review_sample_size: 51 total_review_count: 51 analyzed_review_count: 51 data_age_days: 60 momentum_velocity: "maintenance" intelligence_version: 2 nemesis: "Bihar Bijli Smart Meter" competitor_count: 31 tags: ["utilities", "free", "frustrated sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "pre-paid", "electricity", "consumers"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/bihar-sugam-smart-meter" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- # Bihar Sugam Smart Meter Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Utilities · Free - **Signal**: Rating 4.82 · Sentiment Frustrated - **Recent focus**: Frequent authentication errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and managing their energy usage (top complaint) · The core utility of the application provides a functional and helpful experience for users (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is a utilities app by Secure Controls (UK) Ltd, rated 4.82/5 by 15.7K users, with Frustrated user sentiment (25/100), available on iOS & Android. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Bihar Sugam Smart Meter faces Frustrated user sentiment (4.82/5 from 15.7K reviews), with users reporting frequent authentication errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and managing their energy usage as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.82/5 (15.7K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Frustrated | | **Category** | Utilities | | **Developer** | Secure Controls (UK) Ltd | | **Pricing** | Free | | **Platforms** | iOS & Android | | **Confidence** | High (0.7/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 60d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Secure Controls (UK) Ltd - **Category:** Utilities - **Target Audience:** Pre-paid electricity consumers in Bihar who require remote monitoring and payment capabilities for their smart meters. - **Platforms:** iOS & Android - **Version Reviewed:** 2.0.4.1 - **Report Date:** 2026-09-15 - **Signal Count:** 51 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.7/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 6444326341 - **Bundle ID:** com.mysugam.nbpdcl - **Google Play ID:** com.mysugam.nbpdcl - **Performance Trend:** Stable - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-09-15 - **Short Description:** A smart mobile app to efficiently manage your energy use and recharge your meter ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is a utility management app for pre-paid electricity consumers in Bihar, available on iOS and Android. **Why users hire it:** The app removes the friction of manual meter monitoring and physical payment centers by centralizing balance tracking and bill settlement. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Real-time Consumption Tracking:** Monitors electricity usage and remaining balance in real-time for pre-paid meter consumers. * *User Intent:* Users expect intelligent, adaptive experiences that learn from their behavior. - **[Differentiator] Multi-connection Management:** Allows users to manage multiple electricity connections through a single user account. - **[Differentiator] Usage Prediction:** Predicts the number of days remaining before the current balance runs out. * *User Intent:* Users expect intelligent, adaptive experiences that learn from their behavior. - **[Standard] In-app Recharge:** Enables meter recharging directly within the app using preferred payment methods. ## Market Position {#market-position} Bihar Sugam Smart Meter holds a #15 rank in the Indian House & Home category, yet its 1-star rating across 51 analyzed reviews signals severe performance friction. The gap between its discovery rank and user satisfaction suggests that while the app captures initial interest, it fails to retain users due to technical instability. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Free - **Tiers:** Free utility management app - **Analysis:** The app operates as a free utility tool for government-provided electricity services, focusing on service management rather than direct monetization. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 51 of 51 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.82/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 1.0/5 (1 ratings) | Android 4.8/5 (15.7K ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Frustrated - **Note:** The 4.82/5 store rating reflects cumulative history, while the Frustrated sentiment reflects recent user reviews analyzed by our AI pipeline. ### Top Praises - **The core utility of the application provides a functional and helpful experience for users** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Frequent authentication errors prevent users from accessing their accounts and managing their energy usage** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - Integrated installment payment history provides a specific financial management tool for pre-paid users **Growth Levers:** - Integrating a direct service ticketing module would address the primary feature gap against Bihar Bijli Smart Meter ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Bihar Sugam Smart Meter vs Bihar Bijli Smart Meter - **Bihar Bijli Smart Meter**: Both apps target SBPDCL and NBPDCL electricity consumers for prepaid meter management, creating direct competition for user account recharge and usage tracking. - **Key differences:** - Bihar Bijli Smart Meter includes a dedicated complaint submission channel, which is absent in the source app. - Bihar Bijli Smart Meter provides account information management, while the source app focuses on payment history. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[DPDC Smart Meter Customer App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/dpdc-smart-meter-customer-app)**: Both applications provide digital utility management for smart meter customers, specifically targeting electricity consumption tracking and payment processing. - DPDC includes a dedicated issue reporting module, while Bihar Sugam Smart Meter lacks a direct service ticketing feature. - DPDC supports both residential and commercial account types, whereas Bihar Sugam Smart Meter focuses exclusively on pre-paid meter consumers. - **Prepaid Meter**: Both applications target prepaid utility consumers by providing remote balance monitoring and digital recharge functionality for their respective services. - Prepaid Meter tracks water and fuel consumption, whereas Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is restricted to electricity. - Prepaid Meter removes manual token entry requirements, while Bihar Sugam Smart Meter focuses on bill and installment payment workflows. - **Suvidha Bihar**: Both applications target Bihar electricity consumers to manage utility accounts and process bill payments. - Suvidha Bihar includes outage reporting and restoration updates; Bihar Sugam Smart Meter lacks these features. - Suvidha Bihar supports both postpaid and prepaid connections; Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is limited to pre-paid consumers. - **[Tsspdcl Prepaid Meters](https://marlvel.ai/apps/tsspdcl-prepaid-meters)**: Both applications function as utility account management tools for prepaid electricity consumers, sharing core features like bill history and payment processing. - Tsspdcl Prepaid Meters includes energy saving tips and service complaint tracking, which are absent from the Bihar Sugam Smart Meter feature set. - Bihar Sugam Smart Meter provides explicit support for installment payments, a feature not listed in the Tsspdcl Prepaid Meters description. - **Smart Meters**: Both applications provide utility consumption monitoring and billing history for residential or industrial users, creating a functional overlap in utility management software. - Smart Meters supports industrial setup monitoring, whereas Bihar Sugam Smart Meter focuses exclusively on electricity consumers. - Smart Meters requires external registration at a specific website, while Bihar Sugam Smart Meter integrates bill and installment payments directly. - **Recharger Smart Metering**: Both applications target prepaid electricity consumers, with Bihar Sugam Smart Meter focusing on consumption tracking and Recharger focusing on voucher purchasing and hardware acquisition. - Bihar Sugam Smart Meter provides real-time electricity consumption tracking, a feature absent in Recharger. - Recharger enables direct purchase of prepaid electricity meters, which Bihar Sugam Smart Meter does not offer. - **Atom Smart Metering**: Both applications target utility consumers requiring prepaid meter management and payment history tracking within a single mobile interface. - Atom supports water and gas meter tokens, whereas Bihar Sugam limits functionality to electricity services. - Atom enables management of multiple devices in one application, a feature not listed for Bihar Sugam. - **[Utility Meter Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-trendmobile-metering)**: Both apps target utility consumption tracking, though Bihar Sugam Smart Meter focuses on direct smart meter electricity integration while Utility Meter Tracker targets manual logging across multiple utility types. - Utility Meter Tracker supports multi-property monitoring, whereas Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is limited to single-meter electricity tracking. - Utility Meter Tracker tracks water, gas, and heating, while Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is electricity-specific. - **[Nexus Prepaid](https://marlvel.ai/apps/nexus-prepaid)**: Both applications target prepaid electricity consumers by providing real-time balance monitoring and payment processing functionality. - Nexus Prepaid supports multi-account management for property owners, while Bihar Sugam Smart Meter lacks this feature. - Nexus Prepaid includes automated account notifications, a capability not listed in the Bihar Sugam Smart Meter feature set. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **Consumers Energy**: Provides broad payment flexibility and outage reporting, serving as a comprehensive utility portal for users needing more than meter balance tracking. - Supports multiple payment methods including PayPal and Venmo - Includes an interactive map for real-time outage monitoring - **DTE Energy**: Focuses on quick bill payment and outage tracking, providing a high-volume alternative for users managing utility accounts on the go. - Enables bill payment or outage reporting in three clicks - Allows users to schedule future dated payments - **[Octopus Energy](https://marlvel.ai/apps/octopus-energy)**: Links utility accounts to smart-home hardware like EV chargers, offering automated energy cost reduction beyond simple meter monitoring. - Automates off-peak EV charging schedules for cost savings - Integrates solar-battery hardware for high-value households - **[EnerTalk - Energy Monitor](https://marlvel.ai/apps/enertalk-energy-monitor)**: Provides granular energy data by pulling from utility accounts, serving as a financial management tool for monitoring household consumption patterns. - Accesses fifteen-minute interval energy data for granular visibility - Offers bill estimation features based on usage - **Energy Tracker**: Facilitates manual consumption logging for electricity, water, and gas, providing a local-first alternative to cloud-based smart meter apps. - Uses camera-based OCR to scan new meter readings - Supports CSV import for historical data management - **[Smart Meter](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter-1)**: Manages specific Luna-branded hardware, providing a direct connection for utility customers who require remote meter control. - Proprietary hardware connection ensures data reliability for Luna devices - **[Smart-Meter](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter)**: Targets low-bandwidth monitoring for legacy hardware, serving as a niche tool for rural markets with limited connectivity. - Uses low-bandwidth data transfer to minimize network overhead - **UHBVN Electricity Bill Payment**: Provides a dedicated portal for bill payment and history for specific regional utility consumers. - Supports net banking and card payments for bill settlement - Allows lodging of complaints regarding payment services - **[JGTDSL PREPAID](https://marlvel.ai/apps/jgtdsl-prepaid)**: Digitizes gas utility payments and consumption monitoring for Jalalabad customers, serving as a localized financial tool. - Integrates directly with local mobile financial services for payment - Provides real-time consumption tracking for gas meters - **[Electricity Bill](https://marlvel.ai/apps/electricity-bill)**: Aggregates billing data for multiple Pakistani utility providers, acting as a centralized inquiry portal. - Supports eleven regional distribution companies in one interface - **[DHBVN Electricity Bill Payment](https://marlvel.ai/apps/dhbvn-electricity-bill-payment)**: Offloads support volume for DHBVN consumers by providing a portal for billing and payment processing. - Includes a dedicated theft-payment module for revenue recovery - **[MeterStats – Energy Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/meterstats-energy-tracker)**: Offers manual utility tracking for homeowners, providing a structured way to monitor habits without smart meter integration. - Tracks special events to correlate with energy usage - Manages multiple locations for property owners - **[Smart Meter Customer App](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter-customer-app)**: Provides remote monitoring for Equant Egypt Telecommunication customers, acting as a static reference for meter status. - Tracks technician visit logs for audit transparency - Monitors GSM signal strength for meter connectivity - **smart-meter**: Monitors measurements from BLE multimeters and clamp meters, serving as a technical tool for electrical diagnostics. - Connects to multiple meters simultaneously via Bluetooth - Exports recorded data as CSV files - **[iMeter Reader: Meter Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/imeter-reader-meter-tracker)**: Uses on-device AI to scan meters, providing a privacy-focused alternative to cloud-connected utility apps. - Scans meters using on-device AI to ensure privacy - Auto-fills contract and invoice data - **Precision Smart Metering**: Manages AMR devices for Precision Water Meter, providing real-time usage monitoring for water utility customers. - Sets daily usage limits with push notifications - Manages multiple devices on one application - **Prepaid Team**: Simplifies the purchase of prepaid utility tokens for electricity, water, or gas, acting as a transactional layer. - Provides a dashboard for historical purchase monitoring - **[Electricity Consumption](https://marlvel.ai/apps/electricity-consumption)**: Analyzes power usage of individual household devices, helping users identify energy-wasting appliances. - Includes a library of pre-configured appliances for consumption analysis - Visualizes usage with interactive charts - **Gas Monitor**: Displays real-time gas consumption data from open-source hardware, serving as a DIY monitoring platform. - Operates as part of an open-source platform - Displays real-time data from custom sensors - **Energy Meter**: Monitors SMA solar photovoltaic plants locally, providing high-speed data without cloud dependency. - Communicates locally via WiFi without cloud latency - Supports self-consumption plants with Sunny Home Manager ### New Kids on the Block (What's Innovative) - **[Electricity Bill Check - Bijli](https://marlvel.ai/apps/electricity-bill-check-bijli)**: Centralizes billing inquiries for Pakistani consumers, removing administrative friction for multi-property owners. - Tracks net-metering for solar-equipped households - Stores multiple reference numbers for property management ## What's New - **Latest (v2.0.4.1, 10 months ago):** Introduced Bill pay and Installment pay functionality, including access to payment history. ## App Momentum (Maintenance) {#momentum} - Ships bug fixes only. - Last major release 10 months ago. > **Cadence:** 2 total versions · 1 majors in last 6 months · 316 days since last update · 7 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Bihar Sugam Smart Meter is an utilities app that is completely free. With a 4.82/5 rating from 15.7K reviews, it draws more critical themes in recent reviews than its store average suggests. > **Bottom Line:** Bihar Sugam Smart Meter must prioritize backend stability over feature expansion to address the authentication and recharge failures driving negative sentiment. Restoring core service reliability is the only path to retaining users against regional rivals that offer more comprehensive utility management. **Best for:** Pre-paid electricity consumers in Bihar who require remote monitoring and payment capabilities for their smart meters. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [INVEST] Audit authentication backend because persistent login errors are the top-reported churn driver → restore account access ### Feature Gaps vs Competitors - Integrated complaint submission (available in Bihar Bijli Smart Meter) ### Outlook: Declining The market for utility management is consolidating around portals that offer comprehensive service support, including outage tracking and ticketing. Bihar Sugam Smart Meter remains in a maintenance state, leaving it exposed to rivals that provide a more reliable and feature-rich experience, which will likely accelerate user churn into the next quarter. - 🔴 Persistent authentication failures in the latest release prevent account access, which directly erodes the daily active habit and drives negative sentiment. - 🔴 The lack of feature expansion over the last ten months leaves the app vulnerable to rivals that offer integrated outage reporting and service ticketing. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.82/5 | | Total Reviews | 15.7K | | Sentiment | Frustrated (25/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Free | | Platforms | iOS & Android | | Key Features | 4 analyzed | | Trend | Stable | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Bihar Sugam Smart Meter** (this app) | 4.82/5 | Frustrated | Secure Controls (UK) Ltd | | [Utility Meter Tracker](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-trendmobile-metering) | N/A/5 | N/A | Mobile App Media 101 | | [Electricity Bill](https://marlvel.ai/apps/electricity-bill) | 2.7/5 | N/A | Nasreen Zulfiqar | | [Smart-Meter](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter) | 1.5/5 | n/a | 祥梯 孟 | | [Octopus Energy](https://marlvel.ai/apps/octopus-energy) | 4.6/5 | n/a | Octopus Energy | | [Smart Meter](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter-1) | 3.7/5 | N/A | LUNA ELEKTRIK ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Secure Controls (UK) Ltd - **Website:** App Store ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store ID:** 6444326341 - **Google Play ID:** com.mysugam.nbpdcl - **Dev Site:** Official Website - **Sources:** Developer website content, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Utility Meter Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/com-trendmobile-metering) (Mobile App Media 101) · N/A Rating - [*Electricity Bill*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/electricity-bill) (Nasreen Zulfiqar) · 2.7/5 Rating - [*Smart-Meter*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter) (祥梯 孟) · 1.5/5 Rating - [*Octopus Energy*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/octopus-energy) (Octopus Energy) · 4.6/5 Rating - [*Smart Meter*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/smart-meter-1) (LUNA ELEKTRIK ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI) · 3.7/5 Rating - [*JGTDSL PREPAID*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/jgtdsl-prepaid) (Hexing Zeko Information Technology Co., Ltd) · 3.7/5 Rating - [*EnerTalk - Energy Monitor*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/enertalk-energy-monitor) (Encored Technologies, Inc.) · 3.6/5 Rating - [*iMeter Reader: Meter Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/imeter-reader-meter-tracker) (Ahmad AlAlloush) · N/A Rating - [*DHBVN Electricity Bill Payment*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/dhbvn-electricity-bill-payment) (PRAGYAWARE INFORMATICS PRIVATE LIMITED) · 5.0/5 Rating | Excellent Sentiment - [*MeterStats – Energy Tracker*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/meterstats-energy-tracker) (Alexander Kaessner) · 5.0/5 Rating ## Frequently Asked Questions {#faq} ### Is Bihar Sugam Smart Meter safe to use for electricity payments? While the app is the official tool for pre-paid meter management, users report frequent crashes and failed recharge attempts. If you experience payment issues, verify your transaction status through your bank or the official utility portal. ### How does Bihar Sugam Smart Meter compare to Bihar Bijli Smart Meter? Bihar Bijli Smart Meter is a direct rival that includes a dedicated complaint submission channel and broader account management features, which are currently absent in Bihar Sugam Smart Meter. ### What should I do if the app shows an authentication error? Authentication errors are a common complaint. Ensure your account details are correct, but note that these errors are often tied to backend instability. If the issue persists, you may need to contact your utility provider directly. ### Are there alternatives for managing my electricity account in Bihar? Yes, apps like Suvidha Bihar offer broader utility management, including support for both prepaid and postpaid connections, as well as integrated outage reporting. ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.7/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 51 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 60 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/bihar-sugam-smart-meter) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.