The Union Ministry of Power has set a target to replace all 28 lakh conventional electricity meters in Himachal Pradesh with smart prepaid meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The move is part of a nationwide drive to modernise the power distribution system and improve the financial health of DISCOMs.
Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy informed that around 5.5 crore (55 million) smart prepaid meters have already been installed across the country under RDSS. Launched in 2023 with a total outlay of Rs 3,03,758 crore for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26, the scheme aims to strengthen infrastructure, enhance efficiency, and reduce losses in the power sector.
In Himachal Pradesh, nearly eight lakh smart meters have been installed so far. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) had earlier initiated smart metering in Shimla and Dharamshala in 2019 under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). The project, which covered 1,51,740 meters—1,18,581 in Shimla and 33,159 in Dharamshala—was completed in 2022–23.
Under RDSS, the remaining electricity consumers in the state will be gradually brought under smart metering to achieve full coverage. At the national level, the Centre plans to replace about 20 crore conventional meters with prepaid smart meters.
The minister described smart metering as a key reform that will help reduce technical and commercial losses, bridge the Average Cost of Supply–Average Revenue Realised (ACS-ARR) gap, and improve billing accuracy. Smart meters enable real-time monitoring, precise billing, reduced manual intervention, and greater consumer control over electricity usage.
He added that prepaid systems will ease financial pressure on DISCOMs, while high-resolution data from smart meters will assist in AI-based demand forecasting and better management of rooftop solar installations and electric vehicle loads, particularly in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
