The Jammu and Kashmir administration has installed more than 12.36 lakh smart electricity meters across the Union Territory under centrally sponsored schemes, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
The information was shared by the Power Development Department (PDD) in a written reply to a question raised by legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para.
According to the department, the smart meters are being installed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) is the lead implementation agency for the project.
District-wise data shows that a total of 6,27,492 smart meters have been installed in the Jammu division. Jammu district accounts for the highest number at 3,04,468 meters, followed by Samba with 58,707 and Kathua with 57,320 installations.
In the Kashmir division, 6,09,015 smart meters have been installed so far. Srinagar tops the list with 2,39,147 meters, followed by Baramulla with 87,732 and Anantnag with 77,943.
The PDD further informed that 1,600 smart feeder meters have also been installed on 11kV feeders across ten districts of the Jammu division to strengthen monitoring and load management.
Responding to another query, the department clarified that all installed smart meters conform to national standards and specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Officials said the smart metering drive is part of a nationwide reform programme aimed at improving billing efficiency, ensuring transparency, and reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses in the power distribution sector.
