Posts by Venugopal Pillai

Arunachal, Sikkim T&D upgrade scheme over 60 per cent complete

The Centrally-sponsored “Comprehensive Scheme of Transmission & Distribution System in Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim,” is over 60 per cent complete, albeit with long time overruns. According to latest data released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Read more

Wi-SUN can help accelerate growth of smart metering in India

The Wi-SUN Alliance is a global industry association focused on advancing wireless communication technologies for various large-geography Internet of Things (IoT) applications, including smart metering. In this exclusive interaction, we have Phil Beecher, President & CEO, Wi-SUN Alliance, Read more

MPPTCL Narmadapuram | T&D India

Substation capacity addition up 22 per cent in FY25

India added an impressive 86,433 MVA of transformation (substation) capacity in FY25 – a quantum that was 22.2 per cent more than the 70,728 MVA added in FY24. The FY25 performance on the substation front was in pleasant contrast Read more

Nine ISTS-TBCB schemes fully commissioned in FY25

Latest official statistics suggest that nine interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes, awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route, were fully commissioned during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. While Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) accounted Read more

With 45 schemes awarded, FY25 proves very eventful for ISTS-TBCB market

Fiscal year FY25 that closed on March 31, 2025 has been a record year for the ISTS-TBCB market, on several counts. Based on an exclusive study by T&D India, FY25 saw as many as 45 interstate transmission system (ISTS) Read more

Bihar leads in smart meter installations

Bihar today is the leading state in terms of consumer smart meter installations, official statistics suggest. According to data available on the National Smart Grid Mission portal, as of March 18, 2025, Bihar had a total of 63.55 lakh Read more

India’s power transmission sector is exceptionally attractive for lending institutions: Avener Capital

In this exchange with T&D India, we have Abhishek Kumar, Executive Director, Avener Capital, giving insights into new paradigms in the power transmission sector, touching upon aspects like enhanced involvement of private sector entities thanks to the TBCB Read more

Right-of-way constraints impeding progress of 14 critical ISTS projects

Issues relating to right-of-way (RoW) are impeding the progress of 14 critical interstate transmission system (ISTS) projects, it was recently informed in Parliament. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Shripad Naik, Minister of State Read more

Xbattery launches indigenously developed battery management system

Xbattery, an energy storage solutions innovator based at T-Hub, Hyderabad, has announced the official launch of BharatBMS, a high-voltage Battery Management System (BMS) which is understood to be India’s first indigenously developed BMS. In a release, Xbattery said that Read more

Hitachi ABB HVDC | T&D India

CERC approves transmission tariff of Khavda HVDC project

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved and adopted the annual transmission charge (tariff) of the mega Khavda HVDC project that Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) won under the tariff-based competitive bidding ( Read more