PANAJI
Even as the rollout of smart electricity meters continues to trigger public opposition and political debate in Goa, several large States across India are pressing ahead with the Centre's ambitious smart metering programme, citing improvements in billing efficiency, revenue collection, and reduction in power losses.
India has set a target of replacing 25 crore conventional electricity meters with prepaid smart meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). More than 5.6 crore smart meters have already been installed nationwide. While the initiative has helped power utilities reduce transmission and commercial losses and improve revenue recovery, implementation has also encountered resistance from consumers over concerns about inflated bills, prepaid recharges, and disconnections.
The situation varies widely across States. While Bihar and Assam have emerged as success stories with high consumer adoption and significant reductions in power theft, Uttar Pradesh has become the first major State to roll back its prepaid smart meter model following widespread protests. Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana are continuing with implementation despite local opposition, while southern States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala are witnessing resistance from labour unions and citizen groups over fears of higher electricity costs.
The contrasting experiences highlight the challenges before governments as they attempt to modernise power distribution infrastructure while addressing consumer concerns over transparency, billing practices, and affordability.
Bihar leads with the highest adoption
Bihar remains one of the country's top performers in smart meter implementation, having installed over 61.8 lakh smart meters and covering more than 86 per cent of its consumer base.
The State has witnessed substantial improvements in billing efficiency and reductions in Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses. Extensive consumer awareness campaigns and widespread use of mobile applications have enabled users to monitor electricity consumption in near real time and manage usage patterns more effectively.
Officials credit the programme with strengthening the financial health of power distribution companies while curbing power theft.
Assam's rural success story
Assam has achieved nearly 73 per cent smart meter coverage and completed India's first RDSS smart metering project through a partnership between APDCL and IntelliSmart. Unlike most States where implementation is concentrated in cities, nearly 80 per cent of Assam's smart meters have been installed in rural areas. Consumer satisfaction levels have been reported among the highest in the country, with many users citing better control over electricity consumption. While some complaints regarding higher bills have surfaced, authorities attribute these largely to more accurate measurement of actual power usage.
UP rolls back prepaid system
In a significant policy reversal, Uttar Pradesh has directed power distribution companies to shift nearly 84 lakh consumers from prepaid smart metering back to the conventional post-paid billing system. The decision follows months of protests by consumers, traders, farmers, and electricity workers who alleged inflated bills, mandatory advance recharges, and abrupt disconnections during technical glitches and server failures.
Under the revised arrangement, consumers will continue using the existing smart meters but will receive monthly bills based on actual consumption. The change will be implemented through backend software modifications without replacing installed meters.
The State witnessed large-scale protests in several cities, including Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Agra, and Aligarh, with demonstrators demanding withdrawal of prepaid smart meters and opposing what they termed unfair billing practices.
Maharashtra tops national rankings despite protests
Maharashtra has emerged as the national leader in smart meter deployment, installing 87.6 lakh smart meters as of February this year, surpassing Bihar. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has made smart meters mandatory for new electricity connections and continues to push ahead with implementation despite resistance in several districts.
Protests have been reported in Kolhapur, Dahanu, Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur, where residents and political groups have alleged inflated electricity bills and raised concerns over eventual migration to prepaid systems. Nevertheless, the State government has maintained its commitment to the rollout programme.
Karnataka rollout gathers pace amid legal scrutiny
Karnataka has installed around 2.9 lakh smart meters since launching the programme nearly a year ago. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has mandated smart meters for new and temporary power connections, although the move has faced legal challenges and public scrutiny over installation costs.
Consumers seeking new connections are required to bear the cost of smart meters, which can range from Rs 4,800 to over Rs 28,000 depending on sanctioned load. While existing consumers are not compelled to switch, debates over higher procurement costs and implementation policies continue to shape the rollout.
Telangana joins Centre's smart metering push
The Telangana Cabinet recently approved participation in the RDSS scheme, clearing the way for installation of prepaid smart meters for all non-agricultural consumers.
The State government has sought to address consumer concerns by clarifying that the cost of smart meters will not be borne by consumers. Instead, expenditure will be shared between the Centre and State governments in a 60:40 ratio. Officials say the initiative is expected to reduce transmission losses and improve the financial viability of power distribution companies.
Southern States witness cautious progress
Tamil Nadu and Kerala remain in the early stages of implementation, with rollouts encountering resistance from labour unions and consumer groups concerned about possible increases in electricity bills and privatisation of utility services. Industry observers say consumer acceptance and transparent billing mechanisms will be crucial in determining the success of smart metering programmes across these States.
