Que: India's power sector is undergoing a major transformation. Can you explain how the Smart Metering Mission and RDSS projects are aligning with the long-term objectives of your company in India?

Ans: The Smart Metering Mission and RDSS are transforming the way energy is managed in India, and they align closely with our vision of creating a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable energy ecosystem. They are foundational enablers of Schneider Electric’s long-term vision in India.

RDSS is not just about upgrading infrastructure, it is about modernising the entire power distribution landscape. The Smart Metering Mission serves as a key pillar in reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses and improving operational efficiency. The program has also introduced an implementation model, functionally like “Metering as a Service” approach, wherein Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs) implement and operate the end-to-end AMI ecosystem, which can then be enhanced with digital intelligence and analytics for deeper operational insights and better decision-making.

This approach enables utilities to gain actionable insights into consumption and load patterns, manage peak demand effectively, and undertake predictive maintenance. By integrating digital intelligence across these systems, utilities can transition from reactive operations to proactive, data-driven decision-making.

For us, this is about more than technology, it is about building an intelligent, adaptive, and resilient grid that meets India’s growing energy needs. These programs are laying the foundation for a future where energy is cleaner, more reliable, and accessible to all.

Que: How are you leveraging digital tools like EcoStruxure to support DSM across utilities and urban infrastructure?

Ans: EcoStruxure is our flagship IoT-enabled digital platform that’s already helping utilities and cities move towards a smarter, more adaptive energy future. Traditionally, the focus in India’s power sector has been on supply-side expansion, adding generation capacity to meet rising demand. That remains critical for reliability. But as our energy landscape becomes more complex, we also need to manage how energy is used and that’s where Demand Side Management (DSM) becomes equally important. DSM doesn’t replace supply expansion; it complements it. It ensures that every unit of power generated is used intelligently, efficiently, and sustainably.

For utilities, EcoStruxure integrates data from smart meters, substations, and distributed energy sources to forecast demand accurately, identify peaks before they occur, and balance loads dynamically. This helps reduce grid stress, optimise power purchase, and maintain reliable supply even during peak hours.

For cities, EcoStruxure connects buildings, EV charging networks, and renewable energy systems into one digital ecosystem. It provides real-time visibility and control, allowing city operators to optimise energy flows, minimise losses, and improve overall efficiency.

What truly differentiates EcoStruxure is its ability to bring digital intelligence to DSM, turning data into actionable insights that help operators move from reactive management to predictive, data-driven planning. A practical example is our collaboration with the South Bihar Power Distribution Company, where our EcoStruxure Grid solutions have modernised the distribution network, improving load visibility and reliability.

Que: How do digital twins and predictive analytics contribute to improving operational efficiency and reducing technical losses in the distribution grid?

Ans: We see digital twins and predictive analytics as game changers for the power sector. A digital twin is essentially a living, virtual model of an asset or an entire network. It mirrors real-world conditions in real time, allowing operators to replicate scenarios, test responses, and identify potential issues before they disrupt operations.

But a digital twin today is more than just a simulation tool. It is an operational system that draws on sensors, IoT devices, and GIS-mapped infrastructure to enable real-time monitoring and control. This integration of spatial and performance data allows utilities to visualise their entire network from transformers to feeders, and respond to incidents quickly, minimising downtime, revenue loss, and dependence on individuals for decision-making.

By combining static data (the technical details and connectivity of assets) with dynamic data (real-time operating conditions), utilities gain the intelligence to shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance. For example, if a transformer begins to show early signs of stress, predictive analytics can flag it, enabling maintenance teams to intervene at the right moment. This approach prevents failures, extends asset life, and reduces operational costs.

In India, where techno-commercial losses remain a major challenge, these tools are particularly valuable. Power disruption isn’t just a technical loss. It directly translates into loss of revenue for both industries and DISCOMs. Digital twins and predictive analytics help utilities ensure that every unit of energy reaches consumers efficiently, while also improving reliability, optimising resources, and strengthening financial sustainability.

Que: How do smart grids and digital substations enable faster and more efficient integration of RE sources?

Ans: Renewable energy behaves very differently from conventional power. Sunlight and wind vary throughout the day, and this makes balancing supply and demand more complex. Smart grids and digital substations are helping overcome this challenge by giving operators far greater visibility, flexibility, and control.

Smart grids use sensors, automation, and intelligent data models to adjust energy flows in real time, so renewable power can be absorbed into the grid without compromising stability. Digital substations strengthen this further by monitoring, protecting, and controlling assets with speed and precision. Together, they allow clean energy to be integrated more quickly and efficiently while maintaining the resilience of the system.

Schneider Electric’s Grids of the Future vision captures this transformation. It is about building networks that are sustainable, resilient, efficient, and flexible. Solutions such as EcoStruxure ADMS and DERMS are already helping utilities manage distributed resources like solar, batteries, and electric vehicles, while improving reliability and reducing losses. DERMS allows utilities to automatically balance power across distributed energy resources, not just switching between sources, but dynamically shifting to the most available, economical, and sustainable option at any moment. ADMS, on the other hand, enables utilities to prioritise power supply in real time, ensuring that critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water treatment plants, and emergency services always receive uninterrupted power, even during grid stress or disruptions.

Que: Considering India’s commitment to building a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, how important is it to integrate smart energy management solutions in the development of core infrastructure projects?

Ans: India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047 will be defined not just by how much infrastructure we build but by how intelligently we build it. Roads, airports, industrial corridors, and smart cities will power economic growth, but their real strength will come from embedding energy efficiency and digital intelligence at the foundation. When smart energy management solutions and digital intelligence are built into infrastructure from the design stage, the result is not just efficiency, it is agility. Infrastructure becomes capable of adapting to fluctuating demand, technological evolution, and emerging sustainability goals without the need for constant reinvention.

Take for example the Smart Cities Mission or upcoming industrial corridors like the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor. These projects demand infrastructure that can handle rapid growth while remaining energy efficient. Smart systems make it possible to forecast demand, reduce losses, integrate renewable sources seamlessly, and optimise energy flows across sectors. For urban metros or new airports, this means smoother operations, lower costs, and a smaller carbon footprint.

For India, where energy demand will continue to rise sharply, this integration is not optional. It is the key to creating infrastructure that is future-ready, climate-friendly, and capable of supporting the aspirations of a developed nation by 2047.

Que: What innovations or breakthrough technologies is Schneider Electric betting on to lead the next phase of grid modernisation?

Ans: India’s power sector is at a pivotal stage, with rising renewable capacity, growing urban centres, and increasing energy demand across industries and communities. The next phase of grid modernisation requires technologies that make the grid smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable.

We are seeing breakthroughs in areas such as digitalisation, advanced analytics, and automation. These tools allow utilities to monitor the network more effectively, anticipate potential disruptions, and optimise operations in real time. They also help integrate renewable energy sources and distributed generation more efficiently, ensuring the grid can respond dynamically to fluctuations in supply and demand.

Another key area is decentralised energy management, which empowers communities, industries, and cities to manage their own energy use intelligently while supporting overall grid stability.

For India, these technologies are not just technical upgrades. They are creating a power system that is reliable, adaptable, and future-ready. By leveraging these smart tools and technologies, the country can accelerate its clean energy transition while ensuring people and industries have dependable, efficient, and sustainable access to electricity.