Smart Meter Installation in Kashmir: A Long Road Ahead

By Farooqani

Srinagar, IaK: Amid official celebrations surrounding the success of smart meter installation in the Kashmir Valley, it has been revealed that less than a quarter of electricity consumers have been equipped with smart meters so far. The progress of this ambitious program is reflected in the fact that although the Valley has a total of 1,209,293 consumers registered with the Electricity Department, only 300,187 consumers have been fitted with smart meters to date. Meanwhile, 222,235 consumers still have traditional analog meters installed in their homes, bringing the total number of metered consumers to 522,422. Despite the slow pace, the Chief Engineer has assured that the installation of smart meters will be completed by 2026.

Statistics

According to official statistics, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) currently serves 1,209,293 consumers, out of which 868,071 consumers, including government institutions and offices, remain unmetered, relying on flat-rate billing or other non-metered services.

Among the metered category, traditional analog meters are still dominant. Of the 522,422 metered consumers, 222,235 are using conventional meters, whereas 300,187 have been transitioned to smart meters. While the number of smart meter installations is on the rise, it still lags behind the combined total of unmetered and traditionally metered consumers.

Breakdown by Consumer Category:

• Out of 891,307 domestic consumers, 659,322 remain unmetered, 121,405 use traditional meters, and only 110,580 are equipped with smart meters.
• Among 174,027 commercial users, 25,841 are unmetered. Among those with meters, 83,647 use traditional meters and 64,539 use smart meters.
• Of 2,155 agricultural consumers, 303 are unmetered, 1,499 use conventional meters, and 353 have smart meters.
• The railway sector uses four meters, and there is one electric vehicle (EV) charging center, both of which are categorized as non-traditionally metered.
• Government offices total 7,550 consumers, with 642 unmetered, 5,653 using traditional meters, and 1,255 using smart meters.
• In the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, 807 consumers are connected via LT/HT lines, with 95 unmetered, 669 using traditional meters, and 43 using smart meters.
• Street lighting comprises 280 consumers, of which 86 are unmetered, 186 use traditional meters, and only 8 have smart meters installed.

Overall, these statistics reveal that traditional metering and non-metered billing continue to play a significant role in the Valley, despite government efforts to modernize the electricity system.

Where Are They Installed?

According to sources in the Electricity Department, the installation of 731,669 smart meters is still pending in various districts of the Valley.

The highest number of installations has been carried out in Srinagar, where 186,975 smart meters have already been installed as part of the first and second phases of the Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP). However, 80,250 meters are still pending in Srinagar, which has a total consumer base of 267,225.

In other districts:

• Budgam has 119,948 consumers, with only 7,922 smart meters installed and 111,926 still pending.
• Bandipora has 57,026 consumers, of which 7,036 have smart meters, while 49,990 remain without them.
• Baramulla has 183,937 consumers. Out of these, 36,782 have smart meters, and 147,155 installations are yet to be done.
• In Kulgam, of the 61,885 consumers, only 4,110 have received smart meters, with 57,775 still pending.
• In Kupwara, out of 93,887 consumers, 5,147 have been covered, and 88,750 are pending.
• In Pulwama, 123,827 consumers are registered, with 13,201 smart meters installed and 110,626 still pending.
• In Shopian, out of 41,802 consumers, only 5,732 have received smart meters, and 36,070 remain to be installed.

This district-wise breakdown highlights a significant urban-rural disparity in the rollout, with urban centers like Srinagar witnessing much higher installation rates compared to more remote or rural districts.

Department’s Stance

The Electricity Department maintains that the smart meter rollout will be completed within the stipulated timeframe. Speaking to Kashmir Uzma, Chief Engineer Aaqib Sultan Waheed Deva of the KPDCL’s Distribution Division stated that both phases of the PMDP have already been completed.

He further added that under the Revised Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), 728,000 smart meters will be installed across Kashmir. This new phase began in July 2024 and is scheduled to continue until the end of 2026.

As of now, approximately 15,000 smart meters have been installed under the RDSS during the current fiscal year.

When asked about the prioritization of urban over rural areas, Chief Engineer Deva admitted that the department is currently focusing on areas where Low-Tension (LT) cable transmission lines have already been laid, which are predominantly found in towns and cities.

Deva also acknowledged that departmental staff are facing resistance from local residents in rural areas, where people have expressed concerns about increased electricity bills and stricter usage monitoring under the new system. However, he assured that despite these challenges, the project will be successfully completed by 2026.

Despite steady progress in the installation of smart meters across Kashmir, the latest statistics underscore the long road ahead before full implementation is achieved. With over 700,000 smart meters still pending, the initiative faces serious logistical, technical, and social challenges.

From resistance in rural communities to infrastructure limitations and prioritization of urban areas, the smart meter rollout is as much a policy challenge as it is a technical one.

While the government remains committed to meeting the 2026 deadline, the actual success of the project will depend on the pace of installation, community engagement, and enhancements in distribution infrastructure.

As the Valley moves toward modernized energy governance, the question remains: Can the promise of efficient, transparent, and real-time energy monitoring become a reality for all?