IEEMA unites industry and government leaders to chart smart metering roadmap
- October 9, 2026
The 11th edition of IEEMA’s “Metering India” event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers and stakeholders from across the metering and electrical equipment ecosystem to discuss the growth of smart metering in India’s power sector.
Themed “Smart Metering – The Catalyst for Power Sector Digitalisation,” the event was held on October 8, 2026, in New Delhi.
The event highlighted the transformation of India’s metering industry from conventional systems to smart, data-driven solutions, with discussions focusing on domestic manufacturing, data utilisation, consumer engagement, cybersecurity, implementation and the broader digitalisation of the power sector. The growing scale of smart-meter deployment under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) was also highlighted, along with focus in indigenisation in meter manufacturing.
The inaugural session witnessed the presence of Shashank Misra, IAS, Joint Secretary (Distribution), Ministry of Power, Government of India, as the Chief Guest, along with senior IEEMA leadership.
Discussions at “Metering India 2026” reinforced the industry’s commitment to strengthening domestic capabilities, accelerating implementation, improving consumer engagement and ensuring that smart metering becomes a meaningful catalyst for the digital transformation of India’s power sector.
Towards smart meter indigenisation
Speaking at the event, Shashank Misra, IAS, Joint Secretary (Distribution), Ministry of Power, Government of India complimented IEEMA for facilitating the engagement between the meter manufacturers and chipset manufacturers. He highlighted “The Government of India has mandated the indigenisation in design and manufacturing in India. I urge IEEMA to continue facilitating interactions between meter and chip manufacturers to ensure a streamlined adherence to the timelines for indigenisation.”
“Smart metering is currently navigating a critical phase. With nearly 7 crore smart meters already deployed, we are generating an unprecedented volume of data. Currently, fewer than 20% of users are downloading the smart meter app, highlighting a significant gap. Driving app adoption and actively promoting its usage is no longer optional. We urgently need to capitalise on the data dimension of smart metering to deliver true value to the end user,” he added.
Over 60 pc growth in three years
Siddharth Bhutoria, President, IEEMA described Metering India as a reflection of the industry’s journey and progress towards its next phase. He noted that “The electrical industry is entering a robust growth phase, backed by a strong government vision. Looking ahead to our 2036 vision, we are intensely focused on strengthening skilling initiatives, expanding India’s global footprint, and building greater domestic scale. This momentum is matched by stellar economic performance: the electrical equipment industry has recorded a remarkable 13 per cent CAGR over the past five years, while our metering industry has surged by over 60 per cent in the last three years alone, propelled by the large-scale rollout of smart meters. This is a reflection of the scale of growth that the industry has achieved.”
New frontiers of efficiency
Sundeep Tandon, Chairman, IEEMA Meter Divisionsaid, “Our industry is undergoing a decisive transition, moving away from basic metering toward intelligent, data-driven systems where data is rapidly becoming the cornerstone for smarter planning and management. This transformation is amplified by the unprecedented scale of smart-meter deployments under the RDSS, unlocking new frontiers of efficiency for the entire power sector.”
ELECRAMA 2027
Hartek Singh, President (Elect), IEEMA said “The metering industry has a massive presence and participation at ELECRAMA, the world’s largest electrical show. With ELECRAMA 2027 shaping up to be our largest edition ever, we anticipate unprecedented participation and engagement in this vital category.”
Felicitations
The inaugural session also featured the felicitation of industry veterans. Babu Babel, Past President, IEEMA, received the Lifetime Achievement Award and highlighted the importance of secure metering infrastructure in addressing issues such as meter theft and tampering. B. A. Sawale, Former DG, CPRI, and Chairman, ETD-13 Committee, was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and stressed the importance of reliability, standards and avoiding shortcuts in the metering industry.
Leaders speak
“We must focus on developing world-class Indian products that can compete globally on merit. At the same time, we need to address critical concerns around value, fairness, and procurement models.”
—Jitendra Kumar Agarwal, Jt Managing Director, Genus Power Infrastructure Ltd
“India has the intellect and the engineering prowess to move beyond consumption and creation. We must aggressively champion domestic chip design, building indigenous intellectual property that not only fulfills local demands but establishes India as a powerhouse on the global stage.”
—Ananya Singhal, Jt Managing Director, Secure Meters Ltd
“Significant progress is being made in establishing local manufacturing plants and racing to meet critical timelines for chips and chip modules. However, sustainable success will depend on how effectively we address underlying supply-chain challenges and invest in targeted workforce training.”
—Rishi Seth, Managing Director, HPL Electric & Power Ltd
“Meters have evolved from simple measuring tools into sophisticated two-way devices at the heart of our energy network. To sustain this transformation, we urgently need stable, long-term policies and a heightened focus on comprehensive grid improvement.”
—Amit Kumar, Vice President, IEEMA & Head of Metering Business SBU, Schneider Electric
“To realize the true potential of ‘Make in India,’ we need a holistic approach that nurtures the complete manufacturing ecosystem. Strengthening our local communication technologies is a critical step that demands our immediate collective focus.”
—Ayush Sinhal, Co-Founder & CEO, Kimbal Technologies
“The foundation of a secure and advanced digital grid rests on indigenous semiconductor capabilities. We must prioritize domestic chip design while ensuring that policy frameworks and industry execution move forward hand in hand.”
—Madan Mohan Chakraborty, CEO & MD, Gridcrest Technologies