The Union power ministry recently notified timelines for existing electricity meters to be replaced by smart meters in prepayment mode (smart prepaid meters).
The new timelines were announced very recently by the Union power ministry, and will take effect from August 17, 2021, the date of Gazette notification.
The mandatory shift to prepaid meters is generally applicable to all consumers, except agricultural consumers, and in areas with communication network. The smart prepaid meters should conform to the relevant Indian Standards (IS).
The timeline of December 2023 will be applicable for prepaid smart meters, in the following cases:
- All UTs/electrical divisions having 50 per cent consumers in urban areas and with AT&C losses of more than 15 per cent in FY20
- Other electrical divisions with AT&C losses more than 25 per cent in FY20
- All government offices at Block level and above
- All industrial and commercial consumers
In each of the above cases, the state electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) may, by notification, extend the said period of implementation, giving reasons to do so. However, the extension can be granted only twice but not for more than six months at a time. The extension may be granted for a class or classes of consumers or for such areas as may be specified in the SERCs notification.
The timeline of March 2025 will be application for all other areas (not covered by the above)
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) facility
All consumer connections having current carrying capacity beyond that specified in relevant IS, may be provided with meters with smart meters having AMR facility.
Also read: We Are Aiming To Bring Advanced Technology To Energy Meters: HPL Electric
Feeders and DTs
- All feeders and distribution transformers (DTs) shall be provided with meters having AMR facility or covered under AMI, as per the timelines specified below:
- All feeders shall be metered by December 2022
- All distribution transformers (DTs) in electrical divisions having more than 50 per cent consumers in urban areas with AT&C losses more than 15 per cent in FY20, and in all other electrical divisions with AT&C losses more than 25 per cent in FY20 shall be metered by December 2023
- All DTs in other areas shall be metered by March 2025
However, DTs and HVDS (high voltage distribution system) transformers having capacity less than 25 kVA may be excluded from the above timelines.
(Featured photograph for illustration only)
