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Smart Meter Installations in India Cross 3.46 Crore Under RDSS Reforms

India has installed 3.46 crore smart electricity meters across the country as of June 30, 2025, marking a key milestone in modernising its power distribution network. Minister of State for Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, informed the Rajya Sabha that 2.27 crore meters were deployed under the Centre’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), while the rest came through earlier initiatives.

Under RDSS, a total of 20.33 crore smart meters have been sanctioned, with installation to be completed by March 2028. With an outlay of Rs3.03 lakh crore—including Rs97,631 crore in Gross Budgetary Support—the scheme aims to reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and improve the financial health of discoms. Rs1.51 lakh crore of this allocation is designated for infrastructure upgrades such as substation modernisation, conductor and transformer replacement, and feeder segregation.

AT&C losses have improved significantly, declining from 21.91% in FY21 to 16.12% in FY24. To ensure accountability, the release of central funds is tied to performance metrics like timely tariff petitions, audited financial statements, and subsidy dues clearance. Complementary policy reforms also include subsidy disbursal rules, mechanisms for cost pass-through, performance-based borrowing caps for states, and prudential lending norms for utilities.