What happened (official status under IPDS, NSGM and RDSS)
The Ministry of Power reported in a written Rajya Sabha reply that electricity distribution and DISCOM digitalisation are functions of DISCOMs under the guidance of State Governments and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions. The Government of India supported states earlier through Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS, launched December 2014) and National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM, established in 2015), and is presently supporting DISCOM digitalisation through the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS, launched in July 2021).
Key scheme outcomes and current RDSS sanctions cover smart metering at very large scale (19.79 crore consumers), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) / DMS (Distribution Management System) for 394 towns, and IT/OT (Information Technology / Operational Technology) works such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), unified billing, GIS-based works, and real time data acquisition systems (RT-DAS). The Ministry also linked DISCOM digitalisation with India Energy Stack (IES), described as a universal digital enablement for data exchange across the power sector.
Background and earlier position (IPDS and NSGM as precursors)
Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) supported IT enablement of distribution utilities under the subsumed Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP). Under IPDS, works amounting to Rs. 58,686 crore were executed. Reported components included Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), SCADA/DMS in 59 towns, Real Time-Data Acquisition System (RT-DAS) in 1,414 towns, and installation of 6.54 lakh smart meters. IPDS was closed in March 2022.
National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) aimed to plan and monitor implementation of smart grid policies and programmes in India. NSGM components included assistance for project formulation (including pre-feasibility studies and project appraisal), funding to projects, and training and capacity building. Under NSGM, smart meters installed in Rajasthan were 1,45,343 and smart meters installed in Chandigarh were 24,214. NSGM reported release of Rs. 72.27 crore, of which Rs. 31.85 crore was released since FY2023. NSGM was closed in March 2024.