Press Release
Jaipur, Rajasthan / February 2nd, 2026
The transformation process in the energy sector has reached its critical point, and the implementation of smart metering is one of the most important blocks of power sector reform.
The magnitude and strategic significance of such change have lately become the focus of a national television debate, with the industry leaders pointing out the achievements and obstacles of the smart metering programme in India. Talking at the discussion, Yashraj Khaitan, Founder and CEO of Polaris Grids, pointed out that the government has set a challenging goal of installing about 250 million smart meters in the country.
The programme was initially scheduled to be completed in 2025, but it has been stretched to 2027 due to the perceived complexity in operations and logistics. Khaitan states that nearly 20 percent of the target has already been reached, and the consistent momentum is being maintained in different regions. The number of meters contracted is approximately 150 million, and close to 50 million smart meters have been installed and commissioned.
The smart metering solutions provided by Polaris Grids will ensure that some of the most intractable problems in the power distribution system of India are solved. One of them is the minimization of Aggregate Technical Commercial (AT&C) losses, which have been a major cause of financial weaknesses in the distribution companies. Automated and precise billing contributes greatly to the collection of revenues, reduces leakages, and does not require manual meter readings.
Khaitan pointed out that smart meters enable the utilities to stop focusing their operations on the supply side and shift to real-time demand management. Having the live consumption data, the mechanisms of demand response can be activated to ensure the grid is balanced more efficiently, and renewable penetration can be increased without affecting stability, which is becoming a crucial factor in terms of the changing energy mix in India.
At the regional level, the implementation of smart meters has been accelerated in North, Central, and Western India, with some southern states currently undertaking the awarding of contracts, which are expanding to cover the country. The approach of Polaris Grids indicates a high level of coordination that is needed between the utilities and technology providers, as well as on-ground implementation teams.
Smart metering projects represent one of the most complicated projects in the power industry, which implies not only installing meters but also connecting them to a communication network, a software platform, analytics and interfaces with consumers. Polaris views timeline adjustments as a practical response to this complexity rather than a slowdown in intent.
