Parliament Question: Targets for Installation of Smart Meters

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1951 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025 TARGETS FOR INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS

1951. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

(a) the total outlay and estimated Government budgetary support during the last five years under the scheme meant for the purpose of smart meters;

(b) the number of smart meters installed and sanctioned till June 2025;

(c) the targeted number of smart meters to be installed by 2025; and

(d) whether any steps have been taken to reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses 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) : Under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) smart metering works worth Rs. 1,30,671 Cr with Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs. 24,173 Cr from Government of India have been sanctioned.

(b) & (c) : Till date, a total of 20.33 crore smart meters have been sanctioned under RDSS, out of which 2.45 crore smart meters have been installed. The installation of sanctioned smart meters is to be completed by the end of the scheme period (March’ 2028).

(d) : Government of India (GoI) has been supporting the power distribution utilities to improve their Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses through various initiatives. Some of the key initiatives taken are as under:

……..2.- 2 - i. Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) launched with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient Distribution Sector. The scheme aims at bringing down the AT&C losses to pan-India level of 12-15% and ACS-ARR gap to zero. Under the Scheme, projects worth Rs. 2.82 lakh crore have been sanctioned. These involve distribution infrastructure works worth Rs. 1.51 lakh crore which include replacement of bare conductors with covered conductors, laying Low Tension Aerial Bunched (LT AB) cables, and upgradation/ augmentation of Distribution Transformers (DT)/ Sub-stations, etc. The fund release under the scheme has been linked to performance of distribution utilities against various financial parameters, the prominent among them being AT&C losses and ACS-ARR Gap. Execution of these works would also help improve quality of supply of power. Prepaid smart metering is also one of the critical interventions envisaged under RDSS, which would help in improving AT&C losses.

ii. Additional Borrowing space of 0.5% of GSDP to State Governments, which is conditional on them undertaking specific reforms in the power sector. iii. Additional Prudential Norms for sanctioning of loans to State owned power utilities which would be contingent to the performance of power distribution utilities against prescribed conditions.

iv. Rules for implementation of FPPCA and cost reflective tariff so as to ensure that all prudent cost for supply of electricity are passed through. v. Rules and Standard Operating Procedure issued for proper subsidy accounting and their timely payment.

With collective effort of Centre & States/ UTs and the reform measures undertaken, the AT&C loss of distribution utilities at the national level has reduced from 21.91% in FY21 to 16.12% in FY24. *************