New Delhi: A total of 4.76 crore smart electricity meters have been installed across the country under various schemes, Minister of State for Power Shripad Yesso Naik told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Monday. According to the data shared by the minister in the House, Bihar has recorded the highest number of installations at 82.37 lakh, followed by Maharashtra at 73.98 lakh. Uttar Pradesh has installed 65.06 lakh meters, while Assam and Gujarat have reported 49.60 lakh and 31.28 lakh respectively, placing them among the leading states in the rollout.
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The data also shows that several states and Union Territories have seen very limited progress. Odisha has installed only 4,500 smart meters, while Telangana has reported 8,882 installations. Puducherry has recorded 227 installations, and Mizoram has reached 18,983. These figures place them at the lower end of the national rollout, highlighting the wide disparity between high-performing and lagging regions.
Naik said procurement norms require smart meters to contain a minimum of 60 percent domestic content. He added that the Head End System and Meter Data Management System associated with the meters must be developed and maintained in India, a requirement that came into force on January 1, 2025.
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According to the minister, smart meters provide real-time consumption data at consumer, feeder and distribution-transformer levels, enabling distribution companies to improve energy accounting, billing efficiency and audit accuracy. Naik said prepaid smart meters also support consumers in managing electricity usage and expenses. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the rollout is accompanied by broader distribution reforms, including SCADA and Distribution Management System installations, substation upgradation, line strengthening, underground cabling and measures to enhance renewable-energy integration.
