The Union Power Ministry has recently expressed strong disapproval over Goa's continued delays in rolling out the Smart Metering Project, which was sanctioned in 2021 with a budget of Rs 467 crore. Despite Cabinet approval for appointing DigiSmart Networks Pvt Ltd as the service provider to replace meters for 7.5 lakh consumers, the company is yet to receive a work order. As a result, project execution is now expected to begin only after the 2025 monsoon.
While the Centre has acknowledged Goa’s round-the-clock power supply and low aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, it has criticized the lack of progress in installing smart meters, distribution transformer meters, and feeder meters. With initial deadlines repeatedly missed and the most recent set for March 2025, the state risks further delays. The Centre has stressed that smart metering is crucial to improving operational efficiency, billing accuracy, power quality monitoring, and the overall financial sustainability of Goa's power sector.
During a recent visit, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar directed the State Electricity Department to prioritize the installation of prepaid smart meters in all government buildings and ensure project completion within the current financial year. However, the department plans to implement the project in phases over 27 months, beginning with commercial and three-phase meters. The project scope includes the installation of a meter data acquisition system and integration with the state’s SAP platform, funded jointly by the Centre and the State under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.