Unlocking the Potential of Smart Meters
in India
At the 4th Edition of the Smart Meter Summit 2024, organized by AAYERA in New Delhi, industry experts discussed various aspects of smart meter deployment utilizing advanced technologies.
In today’s evolving energy sector, smart metering is emerging as a game-changer in optimizing electricity management. Smart electrical meters provide real-time data that allows utilities to better monitor, manage, and respond to electricity usage patterns. This technology not only ensures accurate billing and reduces operational costs but also enables advanced features such as demand response and grid optimization. For consumers, it offers greater transparency and control over their energy consumption, leading to potential cost savings and more informed decision-making.
In India, the average billing efficiency is 83%, indicating that 17% of electricity is not billed, resulting in significant revenue losses. This unbilled electricity amounts to approximately Rs 100,000 crore, assuming a per-unit cost of Rs 5. Smart meters can play a critical role in addressing the challenges of the current billing systems.
Build Trust with Smart Meters
Will the introduction of smart meters lead to an increase or decrease in consumer bills? Sharing his thoughts at the 4th Edition of the Smart Meter Summit 2024, organized by AAYERA in New Delhi, Rajesh Bansal, Energy Consultant and Former CEO of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, said, “Smart meters offer various benefits, but the way they are implemented can either build or damage consumer trust. On one hand, smart meters allow for monitoring, disconnection, and payment notices. On the other hand, they provide flexibility, enhance safety, improve power quality, enable faster outage management, and raise awareness to enrich the consumer experience.”
Which of these aspects will build trust, and which will damage it? Mr. Bansal adds, “Positive consumer engagement will undoubtedly aid utility operations, while eroding trust can severely hinder project progress.”
Amit K Gupta, Head-Business & Policy for India, SEA and Africa, Secure Meters said, “Smart metering in India is not just an opportunity for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs) and technology stack providers but also an important responsibility to collaborate in building trust and a robust smart metering infrastructure for the nation.” Mr. Gupta is also the Chairman of the International Business Division of Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) – the apex association of manufacturers of electrical, industrial electronics and allied equipment in India.
Leveraging data for efficiencies and flexibility
The future of smart meters hinges on our ability to optimize the data they generate. In today’s scenario, despite their advancements, a lot of the data collected by smart meters remains untapped.
Meenakshi Kumar, Managing Director – Utilities Industry Lead, Accenture Technology India delved into how data-driven insights are transforming the energy landscape. She said, “Data plays a crucial role in India’s smart meter rollout, enhancing monitoring and predictive capabilities across the utility value chain, from generation to retail. Beyond improving billing efficiency, customer data offers significant opportunities for Indian distribution companies (discoms). As data usage accelerates, focusing on security and reliability becomes essential. Engaging in discussions with fellow panellists highlighted these critical aspects and opportunities.”
Amit Gupta adds, “Against the conventional monthly kWh billing single data, Smart meters with the ability to provide up to 30/15/5 min interval data, can result in generating tens of 1000s of data points monthly. It is a sheer waste if such huge amount of data is not leveraged for improving efficiencies.”
Smart Metering promotes “Make in India”
Smart Metering has huge opportunity with “Make in India” programme. According to Amit K Gupta, “India has been leading the smart metering world by not just making in India, but also exporting to the developed world.” However, he observes, “Indian industry needs to empower the consumers with appropriate engagement to ensure benefits delivery to end consumers and also empower the utilities to leverage the smart prepaid metering technology and the data to improve its operational and financial metrics.”
Smart Meter Summit 2024 – A huge success
Commenting on the event, Kavinder Singh Kohli, Vice President – Customer Success, Kimbal Technologies said, “The SMS Conference offered an insightful exploration into the latest advancements in smart metering technology. Attendees were introduced to cutting-edge solutions and industry trends that are shaping the future of energy management. Keynote speeches highlighted emerging technologies and their potential impacts on efficiency and sustainability. Workshops and panel discussions provided in-depth analysis and real-world applications, fostering robust conversations among industry leaders and professionals.”
Conclusion
Smart metering is a pivotal technology in transforming India’s energy landscape. The insights and data provided by smart meters offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, optimize resource management, and empower consumers with greater control over their energy usage.
By leveraging data for informed decision-making and operational flexibility, we can build a more resilient and responsive energy system.