New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) The nation has seen the installation of 4.93 crore smart meters, with 1.6 crore of these operating in prepaid mode as revealed by the Minister on Thursday during a parliamentary session. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), smart metering initiatives cover 19.79 crore consumers in prepaid mode along with 2.11 lakh feeders and 52.53 lakh distribution transformers (DTs), culminating in a total of 20.33 crore sanctioned smart meters based on proposals from states and distribution utilities, as stated by Power Minister Manohar Lal in a written response to the Lok Sabha.

The remaining smart meters have been deployed by various states through their respective plans and other initiatives, the minister added.

Historically, postpaid service has been the norm. However, due to the advantages for both consumers and distribution utilities, the rollout of smart prepaid meters has been initiated under the RDSS.

Priority for the installation of prepaid smart meters is given to government facilities, commercial enterprises, industrial users, and high-load consumers, followed by other consumers upon showcasing the benefits, according to the minister.

Prepaid smart metering not only benefits consumers but also enhances the billing and collection efficiency of distribution utilities. It provides advantages such as automated energy accounting, improved load forecasting, the application of data analytics for demand-side management, and supports a conducive environment for energy transition.

The advantages that accrue to distribution utilities ultimately translate into improved services and reduced costs for consumers, as highlighted by the minister.

Initially, there were challenges in rolling out smart metering due to limited consumer awareness about the advantages of smart meters. To bolster consumer engagement and trust, the Ministry has issued various advisories and standard operating procedures (SoPs).

These measures include incentivizing consumers with rebates for installing prepaid meters, eliminating penalties based on maximum demand recorded by smart meters, providing a mechanism for easy instalment recovery of past dues, and deploying check meters to boost confidence in the accuracy of smart meters.