Indian Economy News

Power Minister Manohar Lal informs 4.93 crore smart meters installed nationwide

The digital transformation of the Indian power distribution sector is gaining momentum as more smart meters are being deployed. Power Minister Manohar Lal stated that there are currently 49.3 million smart meters throughout India. This represents an important step toward creating a more innovative, efficient, and technology-oriented electricity delivery system. Where applicable, prepaid smart meters have been installed in approximately 16 million locations; these systems enable users to view their usage in real time, providing greater transparency and revenue capture for the Distributed System Operators (DISCOMs). As part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the Government of India has approved the installation of an additional 20 million smart meters. To date, approximately 40 percent have been installed. The number one priority for deploying prepaid smart meters is government buildings, commercial businesses, industrial users, and heavy-load consumers, ensuring that the highest-consuming users are the first to transition to an accountable, data-based metering system.
India's rollout of smart meters is anticipated to result in much higher distribution of efficiency across the country's electric power distribution systems through reductions in aggregate technical and commercial losses, increased ability to read meters remotely, and better power-demand forecasting for consumers and utilities. For consumers, using prepaid meters and smart metering enhances the reliability of electricity service and reduces disputes over customer billing, while for DISCOMs, prepaid and smart metering strengthen the sustainability of their power distribution systems by improving cash flow.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.