**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Power's response to questions regarding the Smart Meter National Programme. It outlines the progress of smart meter installation under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), improvements in grid reliability, collaboration with DISCOMs for digital infrastructure and consumer awareness, and capacity building programs for managing new metering systems. Key data includes the sanction and installation of smart meters across India and improvements in average power supply hours in rural and urban areas.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Smart Meter National Programme:**
* Launched under the RDSS in July 2021 to enhance operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of distribution utilities.
* Aims to provide quality and reliable power supply.
* Sanctioned 20.33 crore smart meters in 28 States/UTs.
* 2.41 crore smart meters installed as of 15.07.2025.
* Target to install the remaining meters by the end of the scheme period.
* **Grid Reliability:**
* Distribution licensees are required to supply 24x7 power to all consumers as per the Electricity Rights of Consumers Rules, 2020.
* Commissions may specify lower supply hours for certain consumer categories like agriculture.
* Government initiatives, including DDUGJY, IPDS, SAUBHAGYA, and RDSS, supplement state efforts to provide quality and reliable power.
* Average power supply in rural areas increased from 12.5 hours in FY14 to 22.6 hours in FY25.
* Average power supply in urban areas increased from 22.1 hours in FY14 to 23.4 hours in FY25.
* **Digital Infrastructure and Consumer Awareness:**
* RDSS utilizes digital infrastructure to improve efficiency and financial health of power distribution utilities.
* SCADA/DMS implementation for selected towns.
* AMI, including smart meters, provides real-time consumption data and helps curb electricity theft.
* Modernization and upgrading of distribution infrastructure sanctioned.
* Standard Operating Procedures for smart meter implementation include phased implementation, incentives for prepaid smart meters, check meter installation, and effective consumer engagement plans.
* Consumer acceptability of smart meters has increased.
* **Capacity Building:**
* Training and capacity building for DISCOM personnel is being conducted under RDSS.
* Training includes modules on Smart Metering.
* 9226 utility employees, including linemen, technicians, and non-technical staff, have been trained in new metering works.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Consumers:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from improved power supply reliability and real-time consumption data to manage usage. Incentives for prepaid smart meters
* *Action Required:* Engage with consumer awareness programs and consider adopting prepaid smart meters.
* **State DISCOMs (Distribution Companies):**
* *Impact:* Required to implement smart metering, improve digital infrastructure, and ensure reliable power supply.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with the government on RDSS, implement SCADA/DMS, modernize infrastructure, and train personnel.
* **Panchayat-level Staff and Local Distribution Operators:**
* *Impact:* Need to manage new metering systems effectively.
* *Action Required:* Participate in capacity-building programs and training modules on Smart Metering under RDSS.
Key Entities Referenced
Smart Meter National Programme: A government initiative to deploy smart meters for households across India.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): A Government of India scheme launched in July 2021 to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of distribution utilities.
State DISCOMs Distribution Companies: State-owned power distribution companies responsible for electricity distribution within their respective states.
Electricity Rights of Consumers Rules, 2020: A set of rules ensuring that distribution licensees supply 24x7 power to all consumers, with some exceptions.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): A Government of India scheme to provide continuous power supply to rural areas.
Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS): A Government of India scheme for strengthening urban power distribution infrastructure.
Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA): A Government of India scheme to achieve universal household electrification.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): A system that includes smart meters and communication networks for real-time consumption data and electricity theft detection.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF POWER
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.790
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
RURAL HOUSEHOLDS COVERED UNDER SMART METER NATIONAL PROGRAMME
790. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:
Will the Minister of POWER
be pleased to state:
(a) the number of rural and urban households currently covered under the Smart
Meter National Programme along with the targets for the financial year 2025–26;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any recent assessments of grid
reliability in rural areas and non-metro urban centres especially in districts with high
household electrification coverage and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is collaborating with State DISCOMs (Distribution
Companies) to strengthen last-mile digital infrastructure and promote consumer
awareness for smart metering adoption and if so, the details thereof along with the
action taken in this regard; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to initiate capacity-building programmes for
panchayat-level staff and local distribution operators to manage new metering
systems effectively and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER
(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
(a) : Government of India launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme
(RDSS) in July 2021 to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability
of distribution utilities so as to provide quality and reliable supply of power. One of the
key initiatives under the scheme is consumer smart Metering. Under the RDSS, 20.33
crore smart meters have been sanctioned in 28 States/ UTs, across both rural and
urban areas, out of which 2.41 crore smart meters have been installed as on
15.07.2025. The balance meters are targeted to be installed by the end of the scheme
period.
(b) : As per Rule (10) of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the
distribution licensee shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers. However, the
Commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like
agriculture. The Rules are applicable for all States and for all areas including rural and
non-metro urban areas.
Further, Government of India has supplemented the efforts of the States through
schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power
Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana
(SAUBHAGYA) and Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), to help them
achieve the objective of providing quality and reliable supply of power.Accordingly, with the concerted efforts of Central and State Government, the
average hours of supply in rural areas has increased from 12.5 hours in FY 14 to 22.6
hours in FY 25 and in urban areas the same has increased from 22.1 hours in FY 14 to
23.4 hours in FY 25.
(c) : RDSS aims to improve the efficiency and financial health of power distribution
utilities by leveraging digital infrastructure which includes:
i. Implementation of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)/ DMS
(Distribution Management System) for selected towns.
ii. Smart meters, as part of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), provide real-
time consumption data, helping consumers manage their usage and enabling
utilities to detect and curb electricity theft.
iii. Works have been sanctioned for modernization and strengthening and upgrading
distribution infrastructure, including substations, transmission lines, and
underground cabling.
Ministry has strategically implemented various measures and has issued
Standard Operating Procedures for smart meter implementation which include steps
like phased implementation of smart meters, incentivising consumers for installation
of prepaid smart meters, installation of check meters, effective consumer engagement
plan by AMISPs/ distribution utilities etc. to promote consumer awareness for smart
metering adoption. At present, the acceptability of smart meters by consumers has
increased.
(d) : Under RDSS, training and capacity building of DISCOM personnel is being
undertaken on a regular basis which includes modules on Smart Metering. Till now,
9226 no. of utility employees (covering linemen, technicians and non-technical staff)
have been imparted training related to new metering works.
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