On the sidelines of a national conference on the use of AI/ML in power distribution sector held in the national capital, Misra told ANI that the government is promoting AI tools to help distribution companies detect theft-prone areas more accurately and respond faster.
“The aim is to reduce consumers' bills and make better use of energy,” he said, highlighting everyday usage and electrical leakage within the home.
Misra said AI-driven analytics will enable discoms to identify anomalous consumption patterns, target on-site inspections and minimize technical and commercial losses, which remain a major cost burden for power utilities and consumers.
The ministry added that it is considering the use of large-scale language models, including GPT-based systems, to support decision-making, automate workflows and enhance real-time monitoring across the distribution sector.
“These technologies enable faster action and improve overall efficiency,” Misra said.
Energy experts speaking at the same event yesterday emphasized that India is uniquely positioned to tap into its already surplus power capacity as the rapid expansion of data centers creates unprecedented demand for energy.
Experts say the country could emerge as a world leader by treating electricity as a traded commodity and demonstrating its ability to meet growing energy needs at home and abroad.
In early October this year, the government announced the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at increasing the competitiveness of India's industry and logistics by rationalizing electricity tariffs and reducing hidden cross-subsidy.
The government says the bill fully protects subsidized rates for farmers and low-income households, while promoting cost-reflective rates to ensure the sector's financial viability.
We aim to build a future-ready power sector that delivers reliable, affordable, and high-quality power to all consumers, from farmers and households to shops and industry.
This bill moves away from the old monopoly supply model and encourages a performance-driven approach in which both public and private utilities compete fairly to improve consumer services. Facilitate better utilization of the existing electricity grid with transparency and accountability, ensuring that citizens receive more value for every rupee spent.
