Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal chaired a review meeting on Haryana’s power sector in Chandigarh, focusing on distribution reforms, smart metering, financial sustainability of utilities, and power infrastructure development.
The meeting was attended by Haryana Power Minister Anil Vij, senior officials from the Government of Haryana, the Ministry of Power, and public sector undertakings operating in the power sector.
During the review, discussions centered on the implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), operational performance of distribution companies (DISCOMs), and measures to improve financial efficiency across the state’s power sector.
Manohar Lal emphasized that electricity should be managed as an economic service, urging utilities to operate on sound commercial principles. He highlighted the importance of reducing power procurement costs, optimizing operational expenses, increasing revenue collection, and further improving Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) loss performance.
The Union Minister also stressed the need for timely settlement of government department dues and subsidy payments through automated mechanisms to strengthen the financial health of distribution utilities.
Reviewing the progress of smart metering initiatives, Manohar Lal called for the expedited award of pending contracts. Haryana committed to commencing on-ground smart metering works from August 31, 2026.
He further recommended a phased implementation of prepaid smart meters, beginning with government consumers and employees, followed by high-consumption consumers with connected loads exceeding 10 kW. The Minister also suggested introducing incentive mechanisms to encourage voluntary adoption of prepaid smart metering.
The meeting also reviewed loss reduction initiatives, with the Union Minister directing the state to prioritize all related projects and ensure timely completion. Discussions covered resource adequacy planning and intra-state transmission infrastructure development, with an emphasis on resolving pending issues and ensuring that generation and transmission capacity expansion keeps pace with rising electricity demand.
Progress under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana was also assessed. The Ministry advised Haryana to develop a focused action plan to increase consumer participation under the rooftop solar scheme, helping households reduce electricity expenses while supporting clean energy adoption.
Concluding the meeting, Manohar Lal stated that sustained efforts in operational efficiency, financial discipline, infrastructure expansion, and consumer-centric reforms would strengthen the viability of Haryana’s DISCOMs and contribute to a self-sufficient power sector. He reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to supporting the state’s power sector development.
Anil Vij assured that the Haryana government would take the necessary measures to implement sanctioned projects and enhance the overall performance of the state’s power sector.
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