The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has notified the draft CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
The amendment provides that all consumers in areas with communication networks shall be supplied electricity through smart meters conforming to the relevant Indian Standards, within the timelines specified by the central government. It further allows the installation of prepayment meters in areas not covered by communication networks, subject to approval by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission. In addition, all advanced metering infrastructure must include prepayment functionality and be interoperable in accordance with the authority’s guidelines. The regulations also specify that smart meters with an accuracy class of 1.0/0.5S will act as interface meters for consumers permitted open access at voltage levels not exceeding 650 V, while the metering arrangement for open access consumers at different voltage levels has also been revised.