Lok Sabha Question No. 1951 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Targets for Installation of Smart Meters
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## 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:

- 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.

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