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 a presentation at the 2nd Indian Power Sector Conference. This move aims to address cybersecurity concerns associated with smart meters and potentially reduce costs for manufacturers. The government has already issued requirements for "design in India" and "make in India" chips for smart meters.

Currently, a smart meter chip costs between $8 and $10, but this cost could decrease as domestic production ramps up. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, 20.33 crore smart meters have been sanctioned, with 5.73 crore already installed. The Ministry of Power has also submitted a draft of the National Electricity Policy for inter-ministerial consultation, aiming to address new challenges in the power sector, such as gigawatt-scale data centers and green hydrogen integration.