Domestic chip mandate for smart meters by mid-2028: Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal
Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal announced plans to mandate the use of domestically designed chips in smart meters by mid-2028 during the 2nd Indian Power Sector Conference. The initiative aims to tackle cybersecurity concerns associated with smart meters. Agarwal expressed optimism that the government would be able to mandate "design in India" and "make in India" chips for smart meters within the specified timeline.
Currently, a smart meter chip costs between $8 and $10. The government has already incorporated a requirement for "design in India" chips into its procurement process. The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has sanctioned 20.33 crore smart meters, with 5.73 crore already installed as of now. Developing and manufacturing these chips domestically could help reduce the overall cost of smart meters, as chip design constitutes a significant portion of the manufacturing cost.
The Ministry of Power has also submitted a draft National Electricity Policy (NEP) note to the Union Cabinet for inter-ministerial consultation.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express - India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
