Srinagar:
Under the revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS), which seeks to provide uninterrupted power and cut transmission losses, officials from the Jammu & Kashmir government have installed 381,000 smart electric meters across the Union Territory, a government spokesperson confirmed.
During a project review chaired by Chief Secretary Atul Dulloo, a progress report from the Power Development Department was presented. It reminded everyone that the RDSS’s first phase kicked off in November 2020, setting out to place 20,000 meters in select parts of Jammu and Srinagar. That milestone was met in 2022, when 150,000 smart meters were installed. The subsequent second and third phases, launched in 2024, aim to reach a total of 950,000 meters by 2026, and this work is now underway.
Chief Secretary Dulloo highlighted the reform’s goal of boosting efficiency, reinforcing infrastructure, and drastically lowering power loss across the territory.
The report added that 381,671 meters have so far been erected, representing 40 % of the 950,755 meters planned for all of Jammu & Kashmir.
“A division-wise breakdown shows that Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has installed 187,894 meters from its authorized 762,872, while Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has put in place 193,777 meters out of 727,855 targets, a steady move toward a transparent, consumer‑friendly distribution model across Jammu and Kashmir.”
“Works worth Rs 4,709 crore under loss reduction and Rs 1,053 crore under smart metering are targeted for completion under RDSS.”
“The works have been split into several packages and awarded to four project‑implementing agencies, including JPDCL, KPDCL, Powergrid Energy Services Limited (PESL), and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), ensuring timely delivery,” the report said.
“Progress in loss reduction, IT and OT works stands at 74 % for JPDCL, 73 % for KPDCL, 57 % and 33 % for PESL in Kashmir and Jammu respectively, and 72 % and 31 % for NTPC in these areas. Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses have already dropped from 58 % in 2022 to about 32 % today, with a goal of 12 % by 2028.”
“The Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and Average Revenue Realised (ARR) gap has shrunk from Rs 3.11 to Rs 1.29 per unit, while billing efficiency has climbed from 56 % to 69 % and collection efficiency from 75 % to 94 %, showing significant progress toward financial sustainability and operational effectiveness in the power sector,” the report noted.
Officials also mentioned that all ongoing loss‑reduction initiatives must be wrapped up before the sunset period specified for the RDSS by the central government.
“He emphasized setting daily and weekly targets for every element of loss‑reduction work—ranging from low‑tension cable replacement to high‑tension line cabling, conductor swaps, feeder segregation, and pole installation. He underlined the need to boost feeder‑wise billing and revenue collection, and called for tough action against any officials who prove negligent or lax in their duties,” the officials added.
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