Lok Sabha Question No. 790 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Rural Households covered under Smart Meter National Programme
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## 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 realtime  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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