**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Power convened a CEO Roundtable at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 to discuss the draft National Electricity Policy (NEP 2026), focusing on distribution reforms and the financial sustainability of DISCOMs. The policy sets ambitious targets to increase per capita electricity consumption to 2,000 kWh by 2030 and over 4,000 kWh by 2047 to support India's goal of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy. Key deadlines include achieving a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and implementing distribution transformer redundancy in major cities by 2032.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Development and Climate Goals**
* Aligns power sector growth with the "Viksit Bharat @ 2047" vision for energy independence.
* Commits to reducing emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.
* Focuses on a decisive shift towards low-carbon energy sources and the integration of variable renewable energy.
**Financial Sustainability and Loss Reduction**
* Envisages achieving single-digit Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses.
* Mandates a phased rollout of smart meters with prepayment functionality, starting with government, commercial, and industrial consumers.
* Emphasizes optimized power procurement through advance planning and strengthened corporate governance.
**Operational Efficiency and Modernization**
* Proposes shared distribution networks to eliminate the duplication of infrastructure.
* Requires GIS-based asset mapping, consumer indexing, and system automation to improve service delivery.
* Recommends the establishment of a Distribution System Operator (DSO) to integrate distributed renewables, energy storage, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies.
**Infrastructure and Reliability Standards**
* Mandates distribution transformer level redundancy for all cities with a population exceeding 10 lakh by 2032.
* Advocates for underground cabling in congested urban areas to improve supply reliability.
* Prioritizes universal electricity access, with a specific focus on infrastructure development in border areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**DISCOMs (Distribution Companies)**
**Impact**
DISCOMs face a significant shift toward financial viability through stricter loss reduction targets and the requirement to adopt new operational roles, such as the Distribution System Operator.
**Action Required**
DISCOMs must implement phased smart meter rollouts, conduct regular energy audits, adopt GIS-based mapping, and upgrade infrastructure to meet 2032 redundancy mandates.
**Large Urban Centers (Population > 10 Lakh)**
**Impact**
These cities are subject to higher standards of power reliability and infrastructure resilience.
**Action Required**
Local authorities and utilities must ensure the completion of distribution transformer redundancy and underground cabling projects by the 2032 deadline.
**Industrial and Commercial Consumers**
**Impact**
These sectors will be the first to transition to new metering and payment structures.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders must prepare for the mandatory adoption of smart meters and prepayment functionality as part of the initial phased rollout.
**Renewable Energy and Tech Providers**
**Impact**
The policy creates a market for new technologies, including energy storage, V2G systems, and local energy markets.
**Action Required**
Providers must align their technologies with the proposed DSO framework and grid resilience requirements to facilitate the integration of distributed energy resources.
Key Entities Referenced
National Electricity Policy, 2026 (NEP 2026): A draft policy framework aimed at reforming the power distribution segment, ensuring financial sustainability of DISCOMs, and facilitating India's transition to low-carbon energy.
Ministry of Power: The primary central ministry responsible for drafting the NEP 2026 and convening the CEO Roundtable to discuss power sector reforms.
Viksit Bharat @ 2047: The national vision for a developed India by 2047, setting targets for a USD 30 trillion economy and energy independence that the draft policy aims to support.
Distribution System Operator (DSO): A proposed entity recommended by the policy to facilitate the integration of distributed renewables, energy storage systems, and local energy markets.
Bharat Electricity Summit 2026: The summit where the CEO Roundtable was convened to deliberate on the strategic direction and implementation of the draft National Electricity Policy.
Ministry of Power
CEO Roundtable on Power Distribution under the
draft National Electricity Policy
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 5:51PM by PIB Delhi
A CEO Roundtable on Power Distribution was convened under the draft National Electricity Policy, 2026
(NEP 2026) at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, focusing on reforms required to strengthen the
distribution segment and ensure financial sustainability of DISCOMs in line with India’s long-term
development goals.
CEOs and senior leadership of leading power sector organizations participated in the meeting chaired by
Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power. The participants welcomed the draft National
Electricity Policy, 2026, and appreciated its comprehensive and forward-looking approach to addressing
emerging challenges in the sector.They noted that the Policy provides a clear strategic direction for
strengthening the power sector in the context of India’s transition towards sustained high economic
growth. The industry leaders also emphasized that the proposed measures, particularly in the distribution
segment, would play a critical role in enhancing financial viability, improving service quality, and
enabling the integration of new and evolving technologies.
Deliberations highlighted that electricity supply must keep pace with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat @
2047, which envisages a USD 30 trillion economy and energy independence. The draft NEP 2026 targets
increasing per capita electricity consumption to 2,000 kWh by 2030 and over 4,000 kWh by 2047. These
goals align with India’s climate commitments to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by
2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, necessitating a decisive shift towards low-carbon energy
sources.
The Policy outlines a comprehensive framework to address sectoral challenges while promoting
competition, enhancing grid resilience for integrating higher shares of variable renewable energy, and
enabling consumer-centric service delivery through demand-side interventions.
A key focus of NEP 2026 is the financial sustainability of the distribution sector. Strategies include
optimization of power procurement through advance planning, reduction of Aggregate Technical &
Commercial (AT&C) losses, and strengthening of corporate governance mechanisms. The Policyenvisages achieving single-digit AT&C losses through phased rollout of smart meters with prepayment
functionality, beginning with government, commercial, and industrial consumers, alongside regular energy
audits and improved accounting practices.
To enhance efficiency and accountability, the draft Policy proposes the introduction of shared distribution
networks, eliminating duplication of infrastructure. It further emphasizes GIS-based asset mapping,
consumer indexing, and system automation to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
Recognizing the growing role of distributed energy resources, the Policy recommends the establishment of
a Distribution System Operator (DSO) to facilitate integration of distributed renewables, energy storage
systems, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies. This would enable optimal utilization of resources
through local energy markets, improve consumer participation, and ensure secure grid operations.
The draft Policy also prioritizes strengthening quality and reliability of supply through measures such as
optimal network redundancy at specified voltage levels and stricter enforcement of service standards.
redundancy at the distribution transformer level is proposed for all cities with a population exceeding 10
lakh by 2032. Additionally, underground cabling in congested urban areas is recommended. Ensuring
universal access to electricity, with particular emphasis on border areas, remains a key objective.
The Roundtable underscored the urgency of sustained reforms in the distribution sector to ensure financial
viability of DISCOMs and to support India’s broader economic and energy transition goals under the
vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047
****
Dr Nimish Rustagi
Chief of Media and Communications
Ministry of Power
nimish.rustagi[at]nic[dot]in
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