Inviting applications for the SAREP Grants Annual Program Statement (APS) – FY2024. For more information click Here.
Opportunities: I. Request for Proposal (RFP) – Carry out a study to identify the CBET Potential of South Asian (SA) nations over the next 20 years (2024-2044). For more information click here. Last date: August 13, 2024.      ||      II. Request for Proposal (RFP) – Development of a web and desktop application for Cybersecurity Posture Assessment Tool (CPAT). For more information click here. Last date: July 30, 2024.

Modernization of Distribution Utilities

Smart Metering, also known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), is a system that accurately records electricity consumption and transmits this data to both energy providers and customers. This technology improves energy management, enables flexible pricing, and integrates renewable energy. In Europe and the Americas, many energy companies have already adopted smart metering technology, offering valuable lessons for India’s ambitious plan to deploy 250 million smart meters.

While India’s project is progressing swiftly, there is potential to learn from Western countries that have embraced smart metering early on and explore innovative financial mechanisms to cover the costs of widespread installation and maintenance.

USAID continues to partner with the government and people across South Asia to enable the modernization of transmission, system operation, and distribution utilities in the region to improve their performance and promote adaptability to new technological advancements.

To examine the financial strategies and solutions that can enhance the rollout of smart meters throughout India and to promote knowledge sharing, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) program, in partnership with the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF), organized a session titled ‘Financing Smart Meters: Constraints and Possible Solutions’ on March 14, 2024, during India Smart Utility Week 2024, at the Hotel Lalit in New Delhi. The main objective of this session was to explore financial strategies and solutions that could enhance the nationwide implementation of smart meters in India.

Apurva Chaturvedi, Senior Clean Energy Specialist, USAID India, delivered the special remarks for the session, which included a theme presentation. The session was chaired by Dr. Rakesh Goyal, Chief of Party, SAREP program, and moderated by Mayank Bhardwaj, Lead E-Mobility, Procurement, and Private Sector, SAREP program.

The session brought together stakeholders from the smart metering and energy ecosystem, exploring the financing of smart meters in India, proposing innovative solutions, and discussing the future of smart metering projects.

Esteemed panellists included Parag Baduni, Partner, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), Charu Kaistha, CGM Power Finance Corporation (PFC), and Sumit Grover, CFO, IntelliSmart Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. The panellists discussed the features of the current financing model and the challenges encountered in securing debt and equity for smart metering projects.

The session represents a significant step towards fostering India’s vision of a modern, efficient, and resilient power sector infrastructure and making consumers an important part of India’s energy transition.

Agenda:

April 1, 2024

Financing Smart Meters: Constraints and Possible Solutions at the India Smart Utility Week 2024

Smart Metering, also known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), is a system that accurately records electricity consumption and transmits this data to both energy providers and customers. This technology improves […]
Do you like it?
Read more
June 7, 2023
USAID holds first-of-its-kind workshop

USAID Holds First-of-its-kind Workshop on Synchronous Condensers in India

The increasing share of renewable energy (RE) in the grid will pose issues for grid stability that India will have to address. Countries with RE capacities of over 20% have […]
Do you like it?
Read more
October 25, 2022

USAID SAREP Mission to Maldives

SAREP team’s scoping mission to Male was a successful mission where the team met key energy stakeholders including Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, their utilities (STELCO and FENAKA), […]
Do you like it?
Read more
August 31, 2022
USAID SAREP Launches Technical Assistance Program in Madhya Pradesh

USAID SAREP Launches Technical Assistance Program in Madhya Pradesh

Distribution utilities are the sole bread earner for entire value chain of power sector. The revenue recovered by distribution utilities is the revenue passed to the upstream utilities – transmission […]
Do you like it?
Read more
July 20, 2022
SAREP as master trainer at training of trainers session to affiliates of Power Sector Skill Council

SAREP Provides a Training of Assessors to Power Sector Skill Council Affiliates

SAREP team continued engagement with PSSC in building capacity to skill manpower in smart meter installation. To increase the strength of training institute and widen the coverage of trainers, SAREP […]
Do you like it?
Read more
July 18, 2022
Speakers at the virtual workshop on AI/ML for High-Performing Discoms

USAID and PFC Joint Virtual Workshop on AI/ML for Distribution Utilities

AI/ML for High-Performing Discoms The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) organized a virtual joint stakeholder consultation workshop to deliberate on […]
Do you like it?
Read more
July 18, 2022
SAREP as master trainer at Advanced Metering Infrastructure Master Training of Trainers session

SAREP Participated as Master Trainer in a NPTI Training Program

SAREP team has been assisting PFC and other stakeholders in the deployment of RDSS scheme. Keeping this initiative in mind, the team participated as master trainers in the TOT Program […]
Do you like it?
Read more
April 26, 2022
SAREP as master trainer at training of assessors session to affiliates of Power Sector Skill Council

SAREP Provides a Training of Assessors to Power Sector Skill Council Affiliates

SAREP team continued engagement with PSSC in building capacity to skill manpower in smart meter installation. To increase the strength of training institute and widen the coverage of trainers, SAREP […]
Do you like it?
Read more
April 26, 2022
SAREP trained six trainers for smart meter installer job role, under a Training of Trainer program conducted by PSSC

SAREP Conducts Training on Smart Meters Under PSSC Program

SAREP engaged with PFC, PSSC and other stakeholders to identify areas for training and capacity building. Job roles requiring skilling for faster deployment of smart metering were identified for different […]
Do you like it?
Read more
January 12, 2022
Various speakers at SAREP’s training program for Bhutan on Power Exchange Participation

Training Program for Bhutan on Power Exchange Participation

The South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) program, which forms part of Asia Edge, seeks to support interventions in Bhutan as part of its goal of improving access to affordable, […]
Do you like it?
Read more