12.36 Lakh Smart Meters Installed Across J&K Under Central Power Reforms
Smart Meter Push Under PMDP, RDSS Aims To Cut AT&C Losses in J&K
Jammu, Feb 11: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has informed the Legislative Assembly that more than 12.36 lakh smart electricity meters have been installed across the Union Territory as part of an ongoing power sector reform programme. The information was shared by the Power Development Department in a written reply to a question raised by legislator Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para.
The large-scale rollout is being undertaken under two major central initiatives, the Prime Minister’s Development Package and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, with REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited serving as the lead implementation agency. The programme forms part of a broader national effort to modernise power distribution systems, enhance billing transparency and reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses.
District-wise data reveals significant progress in both divisions of the Union Territory. In the Jammu division, a total of 6,27,492 smart meters have been installed so far. Jammu district accounts for the highest share with 3,04,468 installations, followed by Samba with 58,707 and Kathua with 57,320. The rollout has also covered other districts of the division, reflecting a phased and structured expansion strategy.
In the Kashmir division, 6,09,015 smart meters have been installed. Srinagar leads the region with 2,39,147 installations, followed by Baramulla with 87,732 and Anantnag with 77,943 meters. The government indicated that the installation process is being carried out in a calibrated manner to ensure coverage of both urban and semi-urban areas.
In addition to consumer-level smart meters, the department has installed 1,600 smart feeder meters on 11kV feeders across ten districts of the Jammu division. These feeder meters are designed to enable real-time monitoring of electricity flow, strengthen load management and improve system-level accountability in power distribution.
Responding to concerns regarding quality and compliance, the Power Development Department clarified that all installed smart meters adhere to national standards and technical specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Central Electricity Authority. This assurance is aimed at addressing apprehensions about technical reliability and data integrity.
The smart metering initiative is expected to bring multiple operational benefits, including accurate billing, reduced manual intervention, improved detection of power theft and enhanced consumer transparency. By enabling automated meter reading and remote monitoring, the system is projected to strengthen revenue collection efficiency and support long-term financial sustainability of the power sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
As electricity demand continues to grow alongside urbanisation and economic activity, the government’s push for smart metering is being positioned as a key reform measure to modernise the power distribution network and align it with national energy sector transformation goals.
