Bihar, Assam, and Chhattisgarh Lead India's Smart Meter Revolution with Over 5 Crore Installations
In a significant stride towards modernizing India's power infrastructure, Bihar, Assam, and Chhattisgarh have emerged as frontrunners in the nationwide installation of smart electricity meters. These advanced devices empower consumers with near real-time consumption data accessible through mobile applications, along with features like convenient recharge options and historical usage graphs for optimizing energy consumption.
Nationwide Progress Under RDSS and State Initiatives
According to data tabled by Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, nearly 5.3 crore smart meters have been installed across the country under various schemes as of December 2025. The rollout is part of the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), launched in July 2021, which aims to enhance the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of distribution utilities while ensuring quality and reliable power supply.
Key state-wise achievements include:
- Bihar has covered over 86% of consumers with smart meters, leading the pack.
- Assam follows closely with a coverage of 73%.
- Chhattisgarh has achieved 54% coverage, showcasing steady progress.
Comprehensive Implementation Across Utilities
In his written reply, Naik detailed that smart metering under RDSS has been sanctioned for 45 distribution utilities across 28 states and Union Territories. This initiative covers an extensive scope, including 19.8 crore consumers, along with over 54.5 lakh distribution transformers and feeders. While 3.9 crore smart meters have been installed specifically under RDSS, states and UTs have also run their respective schemes simultaneously, contributing to the total of approximately 5.3 crore installations.
Challenges and Lagging States
Despite the overall progress, several states are still lagging behind in smart meter adoption. Notable examples include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, among others. These regions face challenges in implementation, which could impact their ability to benefit from the scheme's advantages.
Benefits for Consumers and Distribution Companies
Prepaid smart meters offer dual benefits: they provide consumers with greater control over their electricity usage and enable power distribution companies to make advance revenue collections. This results in improved operational efficiency, reduced receivables, and enhanced cash flow for utilities.
Impact on Reducing Power Losses
The minister highlighted that smart metering implementation, combined with other measures, has played a crucial role in reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses. These losses have decreased from 21.9% in the financial year 2021 to 15% in the financial year 2025, marking a significant improvement in the power sector's performance.
This nationwide push towards smart metering underscores India's commitment to leveraging technology for a more efficient and consumer-friendly power distribution system, with Bihar, Assam, and Chhattisgarh setting a benchmark for other states to follow.
