At a national conference on December 6–7, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, the Union Power Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, announced that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play a central role in modernising India’s power-distribution systems. According to him, deploying AI/ML-based systems will help build “intelligent, consumer-centric and self-optimizing” electricity networks.
He outlined a broad array of technical applications — including smart-meter analytics, predictive maintenance, theft detection, appliance-level consumer insights, outage prediction, and even Gen-AI based decision-support tools. These innovations, he argued, could drastically improve operational efficiency, reduce power losses, and elevate the quality of consumer experience across the board.
Recognizing the scale of the challenge, the Minister called for close collaboration between DISCOMs (distribution companies), technology partners, innovators, academia and regulators, and stressed the need for clear data-sharing frameworks. He emphasized that overcoming misinformation and building consumer trust would be essential for widespread adoption of these digital solutions.
To operationalize these ideas, the conference featured a national “innovation challenge” that drew 195 applications from DISCOMs, technology providers, home-automation firms and AMISPs. Winners showcased use cases — from smart-meter analytics for revenue protection to AI-driven demand-response and home-energy automation. The government also launched a new planning tool, STELLAR, aimed at helping utilities forecast long-term resource adequacy and grid resilience.
