50 lakh smart meters installed in India; highest in UP, Bihar

50 lakh conventional power metres have been replaced around the country with smart new-age prepaid metres. According to the latest data from the power ministry, Uttar Pradesh (UP) had the most metres installed at 11,56,855 lakh, followed by Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and J&K. On July 20, 2021, the government announced the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), under which the deployment of 25 crore smart prepaid metres for all residential consumers is planned until March 2025, at a cost of Rs 3.3 trillion. The smart metres are being installed through several Centre projects as well as by state utilities. While 10 crore meters are to be installed in priority areas by 2022-23 fiscal, the remaining will be installed by FY25-end. Smart meters will reduce AT&C (aggregate technical and commercial) losses to 12-15 per cent & ACS-ARR (average cost of power- average revenue realised) gap to zero by FY25. Also Read Odisha suggests amending the regulations governing deviation settlem. Gurugram authority okays annual maintenance of roads