Overcoming barriers and seizing opportunities for smart meters in developing countries: Insights from a large-scale field study in India

Rapid deployment of smart meters can expedite the decarbonization of the electricity sector by facilitating effective demand-side management strategies, providing essential feedback to consumers for monitoring their consumption, improving energy accounting, and augmenting the financial solvency of the power sector. However, most of the research on the uptake of smart meters has been conducted in developed nations, where there is better electricity infrastructure and distribution services are often privatized. Understanding the factors influencing smart meter uptake is especially important in developing nations where per capita incomes are rising and consumers' energy consumption will profoundly impact the trajectory of global carbon emissions. Here we identify factors influencing consumers' willingness to adopt smart meters in the city of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan in India. Based on survey responses from >5000 consumers, our study is the first to examine consumers' reactions towards smart meter installations while meters were being installed in their households, by a state-owned Indian distribution company. In contrast to developed countries, we find that consumers in our study area were mostly concerned about the accuracy of smart meters and the consequent impact on their electricity bills, rather than about data privacy and security. We also find that in addition to various socioeconomic factors, community mobilization and local political context impact consumers' decision-making. Smart meters provide electricity distribution companies with a unique set of opportunities (e.g., improving their financial condition and increasing the transparency of meter readings) and challenges (e.g., obtaining public confidence and addressing employee concerns). Our findings suggest that policymakers should consider local socioeconomic, cultural, and political circumstances to accelerate the speed and success of smart meter deployment.