New Delhi, June 2: The Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, reviewed the electricity sector issues in Haryana on Tuesday. During the meeting, the state committed to starting smart metering initiatives from August 31, 2026.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Power, the minister emphasized the need for a phased rollout of prepaid smart metering. This initiative will begin with government consumers and employees, eventually extending to high-end consumers with loads exceeding 10 kilowatts. A suitable incentive mechanism for voluntary conversion will also be implemented.
Officials discussed the Reformed Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the operational and financial parameters of distribution companies during the meeting.
Manohar Lal stressed that electricity should be treated as an economic commodity. He urged electricity companies to operate on robust business principles. The minister called for measures to reduce electricity procurement costs, streamline expenses, and enhance revenue. He also highlighted the need for timely settlement of dues and subsidies through an automated payment system for government departments.
He advised the state to prioritize the timely completion of all loss reduction initiatives. The minister reviewed the adequacy of resources and the status of inter-state transmission planning, urging the state to resolve pending issues and ensure that capacity expansion aligns with demand growth.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Grah Free Electricity Scheme. The state was directed to develop a targeted action plan to increase consumer enrollment under the scheme to help reduce electricity costs for consumers.
Manohar Lal stated that sincere efforts to make the state’s electricity distribution companies financially viable and to achieve self-reliance in the power sector would be highly beneficial. He assured continued support and cooperation from the central government for the overall development of the state.
Haryana’s Power Minister Anil Vij assured that the state would take all necessary measures to implement approved projects and improve the overall performance of the power sector.
Leave a Comment