4.93 cr smart meters installed, 1.6 cr in prepaid mode: Minister
Deployment of smart prepaid meters has been undertaken under the RDSS
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: A total of 4.93 crore smart meters have been installed across the country with 1.6 crore smart meters functioning in prepaid mode under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the Parliament was informed.
Under the scheme, smart metering works for 19.79 crore consumers in prepaid mode, 2.11 lakh feeders, and 52.53 lakh DTs, totalling 20.33 crore smart meters, which have been sanctioned based on the proposal submitted by the states/distribution utilities and 3.58 crore smart meters have been installed, Power Minister Manohar Lal told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The balance smart meters have been installed by states under their state plans/ other schemes, he added.
Postpaid service has traditionally been in the default mode. However, considering the benefits offered to both consumers and distribution utilities, deployment of smart prepaid meters has been undertaken under the RDSS. The installation of prepaid smart meters is being prioritised for government establishments, commercial, industrial and high-load consumers and subsequently for other consumers based on demonstration of benefits, said the minister.
