According to latest statistics released by the National Smart Grid Mission (NGSM), contracts have been placed for a little over 20 per cent of the total consumer smart meters sanctioned under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), as of around July 14, 2023.
Statistics suggest that a total of 20.53 crore consumer smart meters were sanctioned as of July 14, 2023 under RDSS, and of this, contracts for a total of 4.35 crore smart meters were awarded. This represented around 21 per cent of the total volume of smart meters sanctioned.
Here are some statistical highlights:
- Sanctioning of smart meters under RDSS has been a widespread national activity, currently covering 30 states and Union territories.
- As of given date, 17.85 lakh smart meters were installed under RDSS. Such installations have taken place in only three states – Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. Bihar had the highest number of smart meters, at 14.27 lakh, installed under RDSS, as of July 14, 2023. This eastern state has also seen the award of all the 23.50 lakh smart meters sanctioned.
- In terms of smart meters sanctioned under RDSS, Tamil Nadu had the highest (at 3 crore), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 2.70 crore, and Maharashtra with 2.36 crore.
- Uttar Pradesh has seen RDSS contracts for 1.33 crore smart meters awarded up to July 14, 2023. This is the highest for any state. Gujarat comes second with 1.08 crore smart meters.
- Award of contracts appears to be moving at a rapid pace in Assam, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Each of these states has awarded 75 per cent or more of the total number of smart meters sanctioned.
- Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Kerala are important states where award of contracts for smart meters has yet to begin. Each of these four states has been sanctioned significant number of smart meters – ranging from 1.32 crore in Kerala to 3 crore in Tamil Nadu.
Other schemes
Apart from RDSS, smart meters are also being rolled out under other schemes like Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM), Pradhan Mantri Development Package (NMDP), etc. Under all these schemes put together, a total of 2.45 crore smart meters have been sanctioned out of which 1.27 crore have been awarded. As of July 14, 2023, the total number of smart meters installed so far stood at around 49.02 lakh.
Also read: RDSS Will Revolutionize Smart Metering Industry: Genus Power
Feeder and DT meters
The entire discussion so far revolves around consumer smart meters alone. However, RDSS also envisages the installation of feeder meters and DT (distribution transformer) meters. It may be mentioned that other smart meter-schemes discussed above do not entail feeder and DT meters.
As of July 14, 2023, a total of 1.94 lakh feeder meters were sanctioned against which 0.39 lakh were awarded (all under RDSS, as explained). In the case of DT meters, as against 54.54 lakh units sanctioned, contracts for 19.04 lakh DT meters were awarded, once again, all under RDSS.
Featured photograph is for representation only.
