At present, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has a nationwide Smart Meter program under implementation, by Government of India. The salient features of (RDSS) are as given at Annexure-I.

Details of smart meters sanctioned for the state of Gujarat under RDSS is shown below:

Currently, the Discoms are in process of tendering and award of sanctioned smart metering works.

A Model Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) for implementation of Smart Metering projects in the country has been pre-pared and released for adoption by the States/Discoms for nationwide rollout of smart meters under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The SBD covers the detailed clauses for data protection of consumers.  The measures given in SBD with regard to the protection of personal data of consumers using the smart meters are given at Annexure-II.

Awareness of consumers is vital for the success of Smart Metering rollout.  Nodal Agencies (REC and PFC) have been advised to sensitize Implementing Agencies to focus on consumer education and awareness during the rollout. Implementing Agencies to carefully deal with the nitty-gritty of consumer experience for better acceptance of Smart Meters. A survey has been conducted for assessing perceptible impact of Consumer Awareness Campaign. A smart meter mobile application for pre-paid smart meters has been launched to enhance consumer experience and their engagement. An Expert Group has been constituted whose main function, amongst other, is Consumer interface management including awareness / engagement campaigns. Further, as per Standard Bidding Document (SBD) under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), there is a provision for Consumer Engagement by AMISP as under:

1. AMISP should develop a consumer engagement plan for smooth implementation of AMI system. The plan at the minimum should include consumer engagement activities to be undertaken at Utility’s headquarter, division and sub-division level as well as communication and media plan for the same. The plan should include educating consumers about the pre-paid recharge mechanism, benefits of pre-paid meters, potential usage of Smart Meters data for consumers, etc.
2. Utility shall provide necessary inputs for developing a comprehensive consumer engagement plan;
3. The Utility shall implement consumer engagement plan with support of AMISP. This would include running media campaign to raise awareness and counter myths around smart metering prior to installation etc.

ANNEXURE-I

 The following are the Salient features of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS):

• Govt. of India has launched Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) vide OM dtd. 20.07.2021 with an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 crores with an estimated Gross Budgetary Support of Rs. 97,631 crores. The scheme aims to reduce the AT&C losses to PAN India levels of 12-15% and ACS-ARR gap to zero by 2024-25.
• The scheme has two parts: Part-A includes upgradation of distribution infrastructure and Pre-paid Smart Metering & System Metering and Part-B covers Training & Capacity Building and other Enabling & Supporting Activities.
• Under Part-A, installation of 25 crore Smart Meters is envisaged across the country. Implementation model for smart metering is TOTEX (i.e., CAPEX+OPEX) under DBFOOT model and OPEX payments to AMISP are linked with Service Level Agreement (SLA). This approach ensures end-to-end responsibility of AMISP for delivery of services during the entire life cycle of the project.
• Along with installation of pre-paid Smart metering and the associated Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which goes with its installation, System metering at Feeder and Distribution Transformer level with communicating feature would also be taken up simultaneously in PPP Mode so that the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) can be enforced to facilitate proper energy accounting.
• The objectives of AMI are remote meter reading for error free data, network problem identification, load profiling, energy audit and partial load curtailment in place of load shedding.
• The funding pattern is as below:

*For Special Category States: All North Eastern States including Sikkim and States/Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep

# A provision for additional incentive over and above this has been made, for Pr-epaid Smart Meters installed within targeted timelines of first phase mission i.e. December 2023.

ANNEXURE-II

The following measures are given in SBD under RDSS with regard to the protection of personal data of consumers using the smart meters:

1. Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider (AMISP) should describe ensure that the system is compliant with the applicable provisions of the “Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information Rules, 2011 (IT Act)” as well as shall be committed to work with Utility for compliance to Personal Data Protection requirements.
2. The Utility shall be the sole custodian of the Smart Meter data. The AMISP and its contracted vendors will have limited need basis access to the data. In case of pre-mature termination or at the end of contract, the AMISP and the contracted vendors should relinquish all access to the data and transfer the same to the Utility.
3. AMISP is required to pre-pare and submit a “Privacy by Design” document to the Utility which details out all the policies, practices, processes and technologies employed to manage, and process the Smart Meter data in a secure manner.
4. AMI system should enable the Utility to get the consumer consent on sharing and processing of Smart Meter data.
5. All data sharing shall be recorded and periodically submitted to utility for review / regulatory requirement
6. AMISP should have a data breach response plan and should communicate to the utility and consumers in case of any data breach from Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system
7. AMISP is responsible to conduct 3rd party data privacy audit at least once every year based on evaluation criteria pre-identified by the Utility in consultation with data experts. The audit report should be made available to Utility. AMISP to take necessary actions on audit observations in consultation with the utility.

VIII. Only GI (Megh Raj) cloud services or Meity empanelled Cloud services should be used.

  This information was given by the Union Minister of Power Sh. R.K. Singh in the Lok Sabha Today.

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AM/DK