14 | September 2025 | www.industrialoutlook.in
The ministry highlighted the need
for coordinated action by the centre,
states and regulators to improve the
operational and financial health of
discoms. It urged state governments
to accelerate the rollout of prepaid
smart meters, beginning with gov-
ernment establishments, to improve
revenue
collection
and
energy
accounting. The ministry also called
for structural reforms to reduce
discom debt and losses, including
timely clearance of government
dues, recognition of utility debt as a
state liability, and settlement of
subsidy arrears. It recommended
issuing
cost-reflective
tariffs,
allowing states to provide targeted
subsidies directly. Other proposals
included using data analytics for
demand forecasting and designing a
new scheme for debt restructuring.
Provisions under the Electricity
(Amendment)
Bill
were
also
discussed to support regulatory
reforms, energy transition, and
private sector participation. I
N ews
POWERGRID SECURES BID FOR NR-WR INTERREGIONAL
PROJECT IN UTTAR PRADESH AND MADHYA PRADESH
MINISTRY OF POWER CALLS FOR DISCOM REFORMS
AND FASTER SMART METER ROLLOUT
Power Grid Corporation of India
Limited
(POWERGRID)
has
secured the bid for the inter-region-
al (NR–WR) transmission system
strengthening
project
aimed
at
relieving the load of the 765 kV
Vindhyachal–Varanasi D/c line.
The project involves the establish-
ment of a new 765 kV substation at
Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, along
with 765 kV double-circuit trans-
mission lines traversing across
Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Ministry of Power convened
the fifth meeting to review the
viability
of
power
distribution
companies and proposed targeted
reforms. I