Smart Meters Now Required for New HESCOM Power Connections

Fast Summary

• Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) will mandate the installation of smart meters for new electricity connections starting September 1, 2025.
• This decision follows a directive from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory commission (KERC) issued on February 6, 2024.
• Customers seeking new electricity connections under HESCOM must purchase smart meters thru retail outlets,as per the announcement by HESCOM’s superintending Engineer of IT and MT Department.

Published: August 26, 2025.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The move toward mandatory smart meter installations appears too be part of broader efforts by Karnataka’s electricity regulatory body to enhance energy efficiency and digitize power consumption tracking. Smart meters can offer improved accuracy in billing and empower consumers with real-time data while supporting grid management for state authorities. Though, requiring customers to independently purchase these devices through retail outlets could impose an additional financial burden during connection setup.

For karnataka’s energy landscape, this step may improve operational clarity but is likely to invite discussions around cost-sharing models or subsidies to minimize initial expenses for less economically advantaged households. Striking a balance between technological adoption and customer affordability will be crucial in ensuring smooth implementation without creating barriers or dissatisfaction among users.

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