Commentary from Mr. Sanjay Kumar Mittal – Senior Director, Eninrac
As of March, 2025, India's smart metering initiative, a cornerstone of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aims to replace 250 million conventional meters with prepaid smart meters by 2026 to enhance energy efficiency and reduce losses for distribution companies (DISCOMs). Progress has been notable but slower than anticipated, with approximately 222 Million smart meters sanctioned nationwide and over 138 million has been awarded, while nearly 23 Million is installed till 12 March 2025. Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh are the leading states in India that have maximum smart meters installed till date.
Despite the push, challenges such as high installation costs, consumer resistance due to perceived billing inaccuracies, and technical issues like connectivity in rural areas have hindered the target pace. The government continues to back the program with significant funding—over ₹3 lakh crore allocated under RDSS—aiming to curb aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses and modernize the power sector, though achieving the 2026 goal remains a steep climb.
