October 30, 2026 – Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing power sector modernization, having installed 17.76 lakh smart electricity meters across the Union Territory.
According to official documents detailing the progress of the power sector under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), 17,76,576 consumer smart meters have been successfully installed against an ambitious target of 20,52,784.
The push for smart metering aims to improve service delivery, ensure accurate and timely billing, and drastically reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which primarily reflect electricity that is lost in transit or for which distribution companies do not receive payment.
Under the RDSS, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has reported a strong performance, successfully installing 5,70,432 consumer meters against a specific target of 6,85,700, reflecting an impressive 83 percent completion rate for its designated component.
However, the rollout faces some challenges on the distribution side. The official data indicates that the installation of over 43,000 smart meters specifically intended for distribution transformers remains incomplete, with distribution transformer-related works reaching 57.71 percent completion.
Other infrastructure upgrades are also progressing at varying speeds. Pole installations have reached 80.36 percent, while aerial-bunched cabling is 70.06 percent complete. The conductor works and 11 kV cabling works currently stand at approximately 40.30 percent and 39.37 percent, respectively.
Overall, 78 percent of the broader infrastructure work under these schemes has been completed. The revised cost for these comprehensive power infrastructure projects stands at Rs 5,842.78 crore, out of which Rs 2,453.52 crore has already been spent as of September 30, 2026.
The widespread installation of smart meters marks a significant shift in J&K’s commitment to enhancing the reliability, affordability, and transparency of its electricity supply, addressing long-standing legacy issues within the UT’s power distribution network.
Published by True Roots Media Network