The count of smart energy meters deployed in India is approaching the 5-million mark, according to latest statistics released by National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM).
As of around September 23, 2022, India had 4.98 million smart meters that included 1.18 smart meters of the prepaid type.
Currently, smart meter installations are taking shape through various Central government schemes and by power distribution utilities (state government and private). The various Central schemes envisaging smart meter deployment include DDUGJY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana), IPDS (Integrated Power Development Scheme), NSGM (National Smart Grid Mission), PMDP (Prime Minister’s Development Package) and pilot smart grid (SG) projects.
The pilot projects are actually part of IPDS and have seen the deployment of 1.56 lakh smart meters, all of the conventional type. In fact, all Central government schemes—DDUGJY, IPDS, NSGM, PMDP and the SG pilots—entail conventional (post paid) smart meters. The highest rollout of smart meters from Central government schemes has been from IPDS. As of given date, a total of 8.10 lakh smart meters were installed under the IPDS, out of a total of 12.61 lakh sanctioned.
Overall, the bulk of smart meter installations have come from power utilities – government and private. Of the 4.98 million smart meter population base, as of September 23, 2022, nearly 75 per cent (or 3.71 million) is accounted for by utilities. It may be noted that here that utility smart meter installations can take place either by utilities themselves (as is the case with all private utilities and some public ones) or through the Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP) of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL).
From an agency perspective, there are four broad groups for smart meter installation – EESL, utilities (private and public), PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) and RECPDCL (REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd).
EESL has the highest share of smart meter installations. As of September 23, 2022, this joint venture of Central PSUs had nearly 3 million smart meter installations to its credit, including 1.11 million prepaid meters. Utilities (private and public, without the intervention of EESL) had around 1.7 million smart meters inclusive of some 66,000 of the prepaid type. PFCCL and RECPDCL had to their credit around 1.4 lakh smart meters each.
Also read: Bihar Crosses 1-Million Smart Meter Milestone
Prepaid meters
As indicated earlier, India’s population of smart prepaid meters stood at 1.18 million, as of September 23, 2022. This entire base has been developed by public and private power discoms – with or without the intervention of EESL. The number of prepaid meters facilitated by EESL stood at 1.11 million while those installed solely by utilities was 0.07 million.
It is very interesting to note that Bihar today accounts for the bulk of smart prepaid meters deployed in the country. As of given date, almost 93 per cent of India’s installed base of prepaid meters is in Bihar. Much of this (nearly 96 per cent), in turn, is the result of EESL’s Smart Meter National Programme.
Featured photograph for representation only