CEA Report On Metering Infrastructure Status And Its Role In Strengthening India’s Power Distribution

The report on the metering status of feeders, distribution transformers (DTs), and consumers in India, as of March 31, 2024, presents a comprehensive overview of the progress and challenges in the country’s power distribution sector. Since the enactment of the Electricity Act in 2003, significant reforms have been implemented across the power sector, with notable advancements in generation, transmission, and distribution. However, the distribution sector continues to face significant challenges, particularly in the areas of Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and the increasing dues of state power distribution utilities.

A key issue contributing to these challenges is the lack of adequate metering infrastructure within distribution utilities. Proper metering is essential for energy auditing and accounting, enabling utilities to monitor energy flow accurately and optimize their operations. Without proper metering, it becomes difficult to achieve accurate energy audits, leading to inefficiencies and financial losses within the power sector. Consequently, improving metering infrastructure at various levels—including feeders, distribution transformers (DTs), and consumers—is critical for the sector’s progress.

The report emphasizes the importance of accurate metering data in various aspects of power distribution, such as load balancing, system loss identification, and network performance optimization. Proper metering allows utilities to improve load forecasting, which can lead to more efficient power procurement and reduced costs. Moreover, metering data is crucial for ensuring a reliable power supply, as it enables utilities to take timely remedial measures. The data obtained from smart meters and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) systems also facilitates the calculation of power supply duration and interruptions, thus contributing to better service quality for consumers.

Under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s (BEE) regulations, energy auditing and accounting are mandatory at various voltage levels across the distribution network. This regulatory framework further underscores the necessity of proper metering at the feeder, DT, and consumer levels. Moreover, the Electricity Act of 2003 mandates that no electricity supply should be provided without a proper meter, reinforcing the importance of consumer metering in fair billing practices and revenue collection.

The government’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), launched in July 2021, aims to address these challenges by reducing AT&C losses to 12-15% and bridging the Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and Average Revenue Realized (ARR) gap by 2024-25. Under the RDSS, financial support is provided to state-owned distribution companies for the installation of 25 crore prepaid smart meters and the integration of smart metering at feeders and DTs. As of the report’s publication, approximately 19.79 crore prepaid smart meters, 52 lakh DT meters, and 1.88 lakh feeder meters have been sanctioned across 30 states and Union Territories (UTs), with a total sanctioned cost of about Rs. 1.30 lakh crore.

The report highlights that there are approximately 2.50 lakh 11 kV feeders in the country, with a high percentage of these feeders already metered. Urban feeders account for 30.12% of the total, with 99.46% of them metered. In rural areas, 98.88% of non-agricultural rural feeders and 99.43% of feeders with more than 30% agricultural load are metered. However, the integration of these feeders with the National Feeder Monitoring System (NFMS) remains a work in progress.

In terms of higher voltage feeders (66 kV, 33 kV, 22 kV), the report notes that out of 38,691 feeders, 98.63% are metered, showing substantial progress. However, the metering of Distribution Transformers (DTs) remains a challenge, with only 41.91% of the 1.51 crore DTs in the country being metered as of March 2024. Urban areas have a higher metering rate at 62.77%, compared to 38.51% in rural areas.

The report also provides detailed data on consumer metering, noting that out of 34.18 crore consumers, 94.29% are metered. The majority of these consumers are domestic users, followed by commercial and agricultural consumers. The report calls for continued efforts to improve metering infrastructure across the country, particularly in states with lower metering rates, to ensure accurate energy accounting and reduce losses in the power distribution sector.

In summary, the report underscores the critical importance of metering in India’s power distribution sector, highlighting the progress made under various government schemes and the challenges that remain. Accurate metering is essential for efficient power distribution, revenue collection, and the overall reliability of the power supply system. As the country continues to invest in smart metering and other technologies, these efforts are expected to contribute significantly to the reduction of losses and the financial sustainability of the power sector.