In Short : India is making steady progress on smart meter installation under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme to modernise power distribution and improve efficiency. The initiative focuses on replacing conventional meters with smart systems to enhance billing accuracy, reduce losses, enable real-time monitoring, and empower consumers with better control over their electricity usage.
In Detail : Government of India launched Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in July 2021 to support the States/ UTs to improve the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of distribution utilities to provide quality and reliable supply of power. One of the key initiatives under the scheme is smart metering of consumers, distribution transformers, and feeders.
Under RDSS, smart metering works have been sanctioned for 45 distribution utilities in 28 States/ UTs. This covers smart metering of 19.79 Cr. consumers, 52.53 Lakh Distribution Transformers and 2.05 Lakh feeders. As on 31st December 2025, 3.90 Cr smart meters have been installed under the scheme. In addition, smart meters have been installed by States under their State plans/ other schemes. Overall, 5.28 crore smart meters have been installed across the country under various schemes as on 31st December 2025. The State/ UT-wise details of smart metering works under RDSS as on 31st December 2025 are given below.
Prepaid smart metering provides benefits to the DISCOMs as well as consumers. It enables advance revenue collection by DISCOMs resulting in improved collection efficiency, reduced receivables, interest savings from lower working capital needs, enhanced DISCOM cash flow etc. As a result of collective efforts of states/UTs and various reform measures undertaken, including smart metering implementation, AT&C losses have improved from 21.91% in FY2021 to 15.04% in FY2025.
Smart meters provide consumers with near real time consumption visibility through mobile applications enabling budgeting and consumption monitoring. Further, these applications also provide convenience of recharge, low balance SMS/Push alerts and historical graphs for usage optimization. Consumer feedback is being gathered through regular consumer engagement exercises being conducted at the DISCOM level, which is further used to enhance the application usage experience. As per the feedback survey conducted by the Nodal agencies namely REC Ltd and PFC Ltd, out of the 1,24,590 consumers who have downloaded the mobile application, 54,321 consumers were aware about the real time consumption feature of the application and 72,494 consumers about the recharge/bill payment option.
The Standard Bidding Document (SBD) for smart metering works under RDSS outlines key provisions for addressing data security and cyber threats. Key provisions in respect of Cyber Security covers aspects like securing communication infrastructure, cloud security requirements, cyber security incident management, compliance to Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act etc.
In addition, to above, CSIRT-Power has been set up which helps the utilities in cyber incident handling and to ensure cyber security preparedness in the power sector.
To enhance consumer confidence on prepaid smart metering, various consumer awareness programs are being undertaken by the distribution utilities, Nodal agencies under RDSS namely PFC Ltd and REC Ltd and AMI Service Providers. The programs include:
- Distribution of Pamphlets showcasing benefits of smart prepaid meters, Mobile app usage and helpline number.
- Installation of Banners at high consumer footfall areas, office locations of DISCOM HQ, Division and sub-divisions.
- Consumer Engagement Campaign through Loudspeaker announcement, Story-based audio jingles in vernacular language and consumer awareness workshops during smart meters installation.
- Awareness Canopies are displayed to explain the benefits and dispel myths of smart prepaid meters to consumers.
- Social Media engagement and outreach.
State/UT-wise Smart Metering works sanctioned and installed under RDSS
| Sl. No. | State/UTs | Consumer Meters (Nos.) | DT Meters (Nos.) | Feeder Meters (Nos.) | Total Meters (Nos.) | ||||
| Sanctioned | Installed | Sanctioned | Installed | Sanctioned | Installed | Sanctioned | Installed | ||
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar | 83,573 | – | 1,148 | – | 114 | – | 84,835 | – |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | 56,08,846 | 21,56,269 | 2,93,140 | 74,389 | 17,358 | 8,192 | 59,19,344 | 22,38,850 |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2,87,446 | 47,941 | 10,116 | 311 | 688 | 263 | 2,98,250 | 48,515 |
| 4 | Assam | 63,64,798 | 46,72,329 | 77,547 | 57,731 | 2,782 | 2,879 | 64,45,127 | 47,32,939 |
| 5 | Bihar | 23,50,000 | 19,74,061 | 2,50,726 | 1,82,145 | 6,427 | 5,775 | 26,07,153 | 21,61,981 |
| 6 | Chhattisgarh | 59,62,115 | 32,32,660 | 2,10,644 | 66,023 | 6,720 | 5,936 | 61,79,479 | 33,04,619 |
| 7 | Delhi | 766 | 2,755 | – | 3,521 | – | |||
| 8 | Goa | 7,41,160 | – | 8,369 | – | 827 | – | 7,50,356 | – |
| 9 | Gujarat | 1,64,87,100 | 34,42,740 | 3,00,487 | 1,28,600 | 1,67,87,587 | 35,71,340 | ||
| 11 | Himachal Pradesh | 28,00,945 | 7,02,046 | 39,012 | 22,054 | 1,951 | 1,603 | 28,41,908 | 7,25,703 |
| 12 | Jammu and Kashmir | 14,07,045 | 4,73,331 | 88,037 | 15,480 | 2,608 | 1,428 | 14,97,690 | 4,90,239 |
| 13 | Jharkhand | 13,41,306 | 5,55,985 | 19,512 | 782 | 1,226 | 829 | 13,62,044 | 5,57,596 |
| 14 | Kerala | 1,32,89,361 | 1,67,077 | 87,615 | 111 | 6,025 | 2,904 | 1,33,83,001 | 1,70,092 |
| 15 | Madhya Pradesh | 1,29,80,102 | 29,90,830 | 4,19,396 | 1,27,231 | 29,708 | 24,097 | 1,34,29,206 | 31,42,158 |
| 16 | Maharashtra | 2,35,64,747 | 80,88,791 | 4,10,905 | 2,52,106 | 29,214 | 30,709 | 2,40,04,866 | 83,71,606 |
| 17 | Manipur | 1,54,400 | 31,962 | 11,451 | 589 | 357 | 220 | 1,66,208 | 32,771 |
| 18 | Meghalaya | 4,60,000 | – | 11,419 | – | 1,324 | – | 4,72,743 | – |
| 19 | Mizoram | 2,89,383 | 25,836 | 2,300 | 393 | 398 | 295 | 2,92,081 | 26,524 |
| 20 | Nagaland | 3,17,210 | 30,522 | 6,276 | 845 | 392 | 105 | 3,23,878 | 31,472 |
| 21 | Puducherry | 4,03,767 | 5,647 | 3,105 | 1 | 180 | – | 4,07,052 | 5,648 |
| 22 | Punjab | 87,84,807 | – | 1,84,044 | – | 12,563 | – | 89,81,414 | – |
| 23 | Rajasthan | 1,42,74,956 | 18,99,467 | 4,34,608 | 23,834 | 27,128 | 25,349 | 1,47,36,692 | 19,48,650 |
| 24 | Sikkim | 1,44,680 | 78,582 | 3,229 | 1,469 | 633 | 471 | 1,48,542 | 80,522 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu | 3,00,00,000 | – | 4,72,500 | – | 18,274 | 9,746 | 3,04,90,774 | 9,746 |
| 26 | Tripura | 5,47,489 | 1,40,240 | 14,908 | 5,494 | 473 | 473 | 5,62,870 | 1,46,207 |
| 27 | Uttar Pradesh | 2,69,79,055 | 59,83,729 | 15,26,801 | 2,44,830 | 20,874 | 25,362 | 2,85,26,730 | 62,53,921 |
| 28 | Uttarakhand | 15,87,870 | 4,11,358 | 59,212 | 7,441 | 2,602 | 2,486 | 16,49,684 | 4,21,285 |
| 29 | West Bengal | 2,07,17,969 | 5,45,586 | 3,05,419 | 44,589 | 11,874 | 9,357 | 2,10,35,262 | 5,99,532 |
| RDSS-Total | 19,79,30,130 | 3,76,56,989 | 52,52,692 | 12,56,448 | 2,05,475 | 1,58,479 | 20,33,88,297 | 3,90,71,916 | |
(As on 31st December, 2025)
Note: Till date (as on 15th January), 4.05 Cr smart meters have been installed under RDSS and 5.44 Cr smart meters under various schemes including RDSS.
This Information was given by The Minister of State in the Ministry of Power, Shri Shripad Naik, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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