The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released draft amendments to the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, inviting public comments and suggestions. This notification was published on March 5, 2025 and the deadline for furnishing comments is April 5, 2025.
The proposed amendments, titled the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, aim to modernize metering practices and align them with evolving industry needs, particularly concerning open access and smart metering.
Key Proposed Amendments
Clarifications on Definitions
The definition of “Interface Meter” is proposed to be updated to specifically include meters used for accounting and billing electricity at interconnection points between generating companies, licensees, and consumers who have been granted open access at voltage levels exceeding 650V by the Appropriate Commission.
The regulations are amended to ensure that undefined terms will follow definitions provided in the Electricity Act and its related rules.
Smart Metering and Open Access
Provisions are added to mandate the use of Smart Meters for consumers connected at voltage levels not exceeding 650V who have been granted open access, in accordance with relevant Indian Standards (IS).
It is also proposed that prepayment mode may not be applicable in the case of open access consumers connected at voltage level not exceeding 650 V or prosumers.
All Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems must comply with the “Guidelines for Standardization and Interoperability in Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems for End to End communication between Smart Meter, Head End System and Meter Data Management” issued by the Authority.
The regulations are modified to allow the Appropriate Commission to determine the metering requirements for consumers directly connected to the Inter-State Transmission System, Intra-State Transmission System, or Distribution System who have been granted open access at voltage levels exceeding 650V.
The CEA is seeking feedback from all stakeholders and the public on these draft regulations.
Comments can be sent by post to: Chief Engineer (Legal), Sewa Bhawan (North Wing), Room No. 622, 6th Floor, R. K. Puram, New Delhi-110066. Comments can also be sent via email to: celegal-cea@gov.in.
The deadline for submitting comments is April 5, 2025.
