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Core Purpose

The Central Electricity Authority has issued new regulations to further amend the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, specifically concerning the installation and operation of electricity meters.

Detailed Summary

The Central Electricity Authority, on April 1, 2026, published the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 177 read with sub-section (1) of section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003). These new regulations amend the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, which were originally published on March 22, 2006, vide notification No. 502/70/CEA/DP&D and last amended on February 28, 2022, vide notification No. CEA-GO-13-15(12)/1/2022-DPR Division. The amendment process involved public notices in six newspaper dailies and online publication on the Central Electricity Authority's website on February 23, 2026, inviting objections and suggestions as required by sub-section (3) of section 177 of the Electricity Act, 2003, read with sub-rule (2) of rule 3 of the Electricity (Procedure for Previous Publication) Rules, 2005. Key amendments include the substitution of clause (b) in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 4, mandating that all consumers in areas with communication networks shall be supplied electricity with Smart Meters conforming to relevant IS, within timelines provided by the Central Government. Connections with current carrying capacity beyond specified IS limits must have meters with automatic remote meter reading facility or Smart Meters. In areas without communication networks, prepayment meters conforming to relevant IS are allowed by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Advanced Metering Infrastructure must include prepayment functionality and be interoperable per Authority guidelines. Smart Meters with accuracy class 1.0/0.5S will serve as Interface meters for open access consumers at voltage levels not exceeding 650 V. Additionally, Table-1 in regulation 7(1)(a) is amended by substituting Sl. No. 4 and adding Sl. No. 5, detailing meter installation stages for open access consumers connected to Inter-State, Intra-State Transmission, or Distribution Systems at voltage levels exceeding or not exceeding 650 V.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-01042026-271483 EXTRAORDINARY PART III—Section 4 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 233] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026/ CHAITRA 11, 1948 CENTRAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st April, 2026 F. No. 1/12/CEA/DPM/Regulations/2025.—Whereas public notices advertising the draft Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2026 proposing to amend the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, were published in six newspaper dailies, as required by sub-section (3) of section 177 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003) read with sub-rule (2) of rule 3 of the Electricity (Procedure for Previous Publication) Rules, 2005, for inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of the period of thirty days, from the date on which the copies of the newspaper containing the said draft regulations was made available to the public; And whereas copy of the public notice as advertised in the newspapers and the said draft regulations were made available to the public on the website of the Central Electricity Authority on 23rd February, 2026; And whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public on the said draft regulations were considered by the Central Electricity Authority; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 177 read with sub-section (1) of section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003(36 of 2003), the Central Electricity Authority hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, namely: – 1. Short Title and Commencement. -(1) These regulations may be called the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006 (herein after referred to as the said regulations), in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 4, for clause (b) the following shall be substituted, namely:- "(b) All consumers in areas with communication network, shall be supplied electricity with Smart Meters conforming to relevant IS, within the timelines as provided by the Central Government: Provided that all consumer connections having current carrying capacity beyond that specified in relevant IS, shall be provided with meters having automatic remote meter reading facility or Smart Meters as per relevant IS: Provided further that in areas which are not covered with communication network, installation of prepayment meters, conforming to relevant IS, shall be allowed by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Provided also that all the Advanced Metering Infrastructure shall include the prepayment functionality and shall be interoperable in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Authority: Provided also that the Smart Meter conforming to relevant Indian Standard with accuracy class of 1.0/0.5S shall act as an Interface meter for the consumer permitted open access at voltage level not exceeding 650 V.". 3. In regulation 7 of the said regulations, in sub-regulation (1), in clause (a), in Table-1 for Sl. No. 4 and the pentries relating thereto, the following Sl. Nos. and entries relating thereto shall be substituted, namely: - +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Sl. | Stages | Main | Check | Standby Meter | | No. | | Meter | Meter | | +=====+=================================================================================================================+=====================+====================+=================================================================================================================+ | (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | "4. | Consumer directly connected to the Inter- State | At consumer premises| | At consumer premises on | | | Transmission System or Intra-State | | | separate Instrument | | | Transmission System or Distribution System | | | Transformer or at | | | who has been permitted open access at voltage | | | Licensee's substation as | | | level exceeding 650 V by the Appropriate | | | mutually agreed. | | | Commission or any other system not | | | | | | covered above | | | | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 5. | Consumer permitted open access at voltage level not exceeding 650 V | At consumer premises| At consumer | ----". | | | | | premises | | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ RAKESH KUMAR, Secy. [ADVT.-III/4/Exty./02/2026-27] Note: The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, vide notification No. 502/70/CEA/DP&D, dated the 22nd March, 2006 and last amended vide notification No. CEA-GO-13-15(12)/1/2022-DPR Division, dated the 28th February, 2022. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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