India Notifies Timelines For Prepaid Smart Meter Rollout

The Union power ministry of India recently notified timelines for replacement of existing postpaid electricity meters, whether digital or analog, with smart meters with prepayment mode (smart prepaid meters).

The mandatory shift to prepaid meters is applicable to all consumers except agricultural consumers, and in areas without a communication network. Smart prepaid meters should follow the relevant Indian Standards (IS). The replacement work will be completed in two phases by December 2023 and March 2025.

In phase 1 all-union territories’ and state’s electrical divisions having more than 50% consumers in urban areas and havimg AT&C losses of more than 15% in the financial year 2019-20, all Government offices at the block level and above, and all industrial and commercial consumers shall be metered with smart meters with prepayment mode by December 2023. In phase 2 all other areas shall be metered with smart meters with prepayment mode by March 2025.