Parliament Question: Smart grid projects

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2706 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 SMART GRID PROJECTS 2706 SHRI PARIMAL NATHWANI: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has implemented or proposed smart grid projects in urban areas; (b) if so, the number of such projects currently operational across the country; and (c) the benefits accrued from the adoption of smart grid technologies? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a) to (c) : Government of India (GoI) has supported the States/ distribution utilities in implementation of smart grid projects across the country through financial assistance earlier under schemes like Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP), Integrated Power Distribution Scheme (IPDS), National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and currently under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), launched in July 2021. 11 Nos. of Smart Grid pilot projects under Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP)/Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and 2 Smart Grid projects under National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) were deployed at various locations in the country. Thereafter, under RDSS, pre-paid smart metering works covering 19.79 crore consumers and smart system metering works for 2.11 lakh feeders and 52.53 lakh Distribution Transformers (DTs) have been sanctioned. Till date, 5.97 crore smart meters have been installed across the country under various schemes. Further, under the above schemes, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) works have been sanctioned for 455 towns. The following benefits to DISCOMs and consumers are envisaged with the adoption of smart grid technologies: i. Enhanced revenue collection for DISCOMs along with automatic energy accounting. ii. Real-time detection and recording of outages, reduced equipment failure and faster fault detection and restoration. iii. Improved consumer experience due to accurate billing and ability to track electricity consumption. iv. Improved load forecasting along with facilitating an enabling ecosystem for energy transition. *******