Prospect

Bihar accounts for 70% of India’s prepaid smart metres: Energy Secretary Ajay Yadav

Bihar showcased its remarkable transformation in the power sector and outlined its roadmap for a digitally enabled, future-ready electricity ecosystem at the 7th CII International Energy Conference & Exhibition (IECE 2026) in New Delhi.

Representing the State, Ajay Yadav, IAS, Energy Secretary, Government of Bihar & Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL), participated as a distinguished panellist in the technical session, “Demand Response 2.0: Leveraging Smart Metres, DT Metres and IoT for Flexible Power Systems.” The discussion focused on the role of smart metering, AI, IoT and digital technologies in creating flexible and consumer-centric power systems.

Addressing the gathering, Yadav said Bihar has emerged as a national leader in smart metering, having installed 92 lakh prepaid smart meters, which represent nearly 70 per cent of all prepaid smart metres installed in the country. Further, when considering the total smart metre installations across India, including both prepaid and postpaid smart metres, Bihar accounts for around 30 per cent of the national installation base.

He said Bihar’s power sector has witnessed remarkable improvements between 2020 and 2025. Billing efficiency has increased from 75.14 per cent in financial year 2019-20 to 88.46 per cent in 2025- 26, collection efficiency from 86 per cent to 100 per cent, while AT&C losses have declined from 35.12 per cent in 2019-20 to 11.54 per cent in 2025- 26. The ACS-ARR gap has also turned positive.

Yadav said prepaid smart metering has significantly reduced electricity theft, virtually eliminated arrears, improved billing efficiency and strengthened consumer confidence.

Bihar has also generated nearly 10 billion data points, enabling utilities to better understand consumption patterns, forecast demand and improve decision-making. He added that the successful implementation of Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs is helping optimise electricity consumption and strengthen demand-side management.

He further informed that Bihar has installed nearly two lakh Distribution Transformer (DT) meters, enabling real-time monitoring of transformer loading, predictive maintenance and better asset planning, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of the distribution network.

Highlighting the next phase of Bihar’s power reforms, Yadav said the State is actively promoting industrialisation, planning to develop 13 greenfield satellite townships and creating world-class infrastructure to support economic growth. Bihar has already recorded a peak demand of around 9,475 MW this year, while providing the power supply of 23-24 hours in urban areas and 22-23 hours in rural areas.

Emphasising the need to improve power quality alongside availability, he said, “Our focus is no longer limited to ensuring adequate power availability. We are now leveraging the digital energy ecosystem to deliver reliable, resilient and high-quality power supply for industries and consumers alike.”

Yadav said Bihar is integrating advanced digital technologies across its distribution network through IoT-based monitoring, GIS-enabled asset mapping, Digital Asset Registers and an integrated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform for real-time monitoring and faster decision-making. He also highlighted the Suvidha Bihar Portal, which offers 21 online consumer services, making electricity services more transparent and citizen-centric.

He added that the State is simultaneously expanding rooftop solar, solarisation of agricultural feeders and the PM-KUSUM Scheme, while preparing its distribution network through smart grid technologies and advanced analytics to support higher renewable energy integration.

Calling for greater collaboration among governments, utilities, technology providers, research institutions and industry, Yadav said partnerships and technological innovation would be critical to building a resilient, digitally enabled and future-ready power sector.

The technical session also featured Dr Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Power), Government of Assam; Dr Anoop Singh, Professor, IIT Kanpur; Gopal Parikh, Senior Director, Kimbal; and Abhishek Ranjan, CEO, BRPL. Moderated by Madan Mohan Chakraborty, CEO & Managing Director, GridCrest Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the session highlighted the growing importance of smart metering, AI, IoT and digital technologies in enabling India’s clean energy transition and building a resilient power sector.

The panellists observed that India’s energy transition will increasingly depend on intelligent digital infrastructure capable of balancing rising electricity demand with higher renewable energy integration. They highlighted the critical role of smart metering, AI-driven analytics, IoT-enabled monitoring and demand response mechanisms in improving grid flexibility, reducing peak demand, strengthening system resilience and enhancing consumer participation.

They further emphasised that closer collaboration among governments, utilities, technology providers, research institutions and consumers will be instrumental in accelerating India’s transition towards a secure, sustainable and digitally enabled power sector.

Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, Mauritius, graces ICSI’s 5th International Conference

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) inaugurated its 5th International Conference 2026 in Mauritius on 3 August in the presence of Dr Jyoti Jeetun, Anurag Srivastava, and CS Pawan G Chandak. Organised on the theme Strengthening Governance in a VUCA World, the three-day conference featured deliberations on corporate governance, sustainability, responsible AI, geopolitical risks, the India–Mauritius partnership, and cross-border investments. Dr Jeetun emphasised the need for resilient governance and positioned Company Secretaries as strategic boardroom advisors in an evolving global landscape.

Srivastava highlighted their role in strengthening transparency, accountability, and cross-border trade between India and Mauritius. ICSI President CS Pawan G Chandak said future-ready governance will be driven by agile leadership, transparency, and AI-powered innovation. The Institute also announced its Global Governance Conference, to be held in Mumbai on 8–9 January 2027.