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Union Power Minister Says Prepaid Smart Meters Not Mandatory for Consumers

Newsmantra — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:17:12 +0000

NEW DELHI. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal has clarified that prepaid electric smart meters are not compulsory for all consumers. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Lok Sabha today, Mr Lal said that if consumers choose to switch to prepaid smart meters, it will benefit not only consumers but also the states and the utility companies. He said that several states have installed Smart Prepaid Meters.

The Minister also clarified that prepaid electric smart meters are not being imposed forcefully on any consumers, as it is optional. He said that wherever prepaid systems have been implemented, the losses of companies have been eliminated, and they have moved into profit. The Minister informed that currently the losses of power distribution companies have reached to nearly seven lakh crore rupees. He said, prepaid smart meters are being introduced to ensure proper bill collection.

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PFC hosts GoM meet on DISCOM viability

Newsmantra — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:44:22 +0000

NEW DELHI. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) organised the 6th Meeting of the Group of Ministers on DISCOM viability on the sidelines of the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026. The meeting, chaired by Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik, saw participation from energy ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, along with PFC CMD Parminder Chopra, and focused on strengthening the financial and operational sustainability of DISCOMs.

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REC and National Test House Partner to Ensure Quality in Power Projects

Newsmantra — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:35:00 +0000

REC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Test House (NTH) to strengthen quality assurance for the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Signed on March 18, 2026, in New Delhi, this partnership enables third-party testing of project materials at NTH’s NABL-accredited laboratories to address quality gaps and improve the reliability of India’s power distribution infrastructure. Beyond testing, the two organizations will collaborate on technical workshops and training programs to develop robust safety frameworks, ensuring that materials used in rural and urban electrification meet high national standards.

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Manju Gupta Calls for System-Level Reforms to Strengthen Women’s Participation in Power Sector

Newsmantra — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:27:30 +0000

NEW DELHI. Smt. Manju Gupta, Executive Director of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (POWERGRID), engaged with professionals while addressing the WISE Summit, where she presented a grounded and results-driven perspective shaped by her leadership in India’s power transmission sector. Drawing from on-ground experience, she highlighted that safety, robust infrastructure and strong institutional preparedness are fundamental enablers of women’s participation, stressing that meaningful inclusion requires more than policy intent or incentive-based approaches.

She emphasised that women’s capability and competence in the power and renewable energy sectors are well established. However, scaling their participation demands deliberate, system-level interventions and coordinated action across policymakers, utilities and industry stakeholders. Gupta underscored the importance of building enabling ecosystems that address structural barriers and create equal opportunities at all levels of the sector.

Her remarks reinforced the need to integrate gender-responsive practices into the core functioning of India’s power and renewable energy ecosystem. By embedding inclusion into organisational frameworks, operational processes and infrastructure planning, she noted, the sector can unlock broader talent pools while strengthening long-term sustainability and institutional resilience.

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Annual Rating of Power Utilities released

Newsmantra — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:40:31 +0000

NEW DELHI. The 14th edition of the Annual Integrated Rating of Power Distribution Utilities covering 65 utilities was released by the Union Minister of Power and H&UA, Shri Manohar Lal, at the Chintan Shivir on 23 January 2026 in the presence of the Union Minister of State for Power and NRE, Shri Shripad Naik. The Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri Pankaj Agarwal, was also present, along with other senior officials from the Ministry of Power and various State Governments. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the nodal agency for conducting the Integrated Rating Exercise.

The sector has reported a positive Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₹2,701 crore for the first time in several years, along with improvements in ACS-ARR gap and AT&C losses compared to the previous year. Commenting on this achievement, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, Shri Manohar Lal, stated that this marks a new chapter for the distribution sector and reflects the impact of sustained efforts to address long-standing challenges in the sector.

PFC remains committed to supporting India’s power sector through continued policy support, financial assistance, and strengthening the operational and financial sustainability of power distribution

#IntegratedRatings#PowerSector #DISCOMs #EnergyReforms #PowerDistribution

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