PNGRB–EESL MoU Boosts Smart PNG Metering, Safety, Cybersecurity

New Delhi: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture PSU under the Ministry of Power, is set to give a major technology push to India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector through large-scale deployment of Smart Domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) Meters.

The initiative is expected to usher in a new generation of gas metering with advanced features including digital monitoring, tamper alerts, leak detection, remote operations and cybersecurity safeguards, making the PNG ecosystem not only more efficient and transparent but also safer and more secure for millions of consumers.

Energy efficiency expert and former Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Dr Ajay Mathur, who also served as a Member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change and has held leadership positions in the International Solar Alliance, welcomed the PNGRB-EESL partnership as a timely and significant step towards a consumer-centric, technology-enabled and future-ready CGD ecosystem.

He congratulated PNGRB Secretary Anjan Kumar Mishra and EESL CEO Akhilesh Kumar Dixit for the initiative, observing that smart PNG metering would contribute not only to energy efficiency andhe tt transparency but also to energy security and cybersecurity.

The partnership brings together PNGRB’s regulatory expertise and EESL’s experience in demand aggregation and large-scale smart-metering programmes. PNGRB will facilitate regulatory guidance, standardisation, conformity assessment, certification and stakeholder coordination, while EESL will support demand aggregation, technology assessment, procurement strategies and implementation.

The need for smart gas metering has become increasingly important as India rapidly expands its natural gas infrastructure. PNGRB a Statutory body established under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act 2006,has authorised 307 Geographical Areas, providing 100 per cent mainland coverage, while more than 33,500 km of natural gas pipeline networks have been authorised, of which around 25,000 km are already operational.

With PNG connections expanding rapidly across urban and semi-urban areas, traditional manual meter reading and periodic billing systems could face growing challenges relating to accuracy, revenue assurance & safety monitoring and customer service. Smart meters can address many of these challenges through automated and digitally connected systems.

For consumers, the new-generation meters can provide accurate billing, real-time consumption information, digital access to usage data and better and control over energy expenditure. More importantly, advanced safety capabilities can enable remote monitoring, abnormal-condition detections tamper alerts and automatic shut-off, helping minimise risks associated with gas leakage or unusual consumption patterns.

The cybersecurity component assumes particular importance as gas metering becomes increasingly connected and digital. Secure communication, protected data exchange and safeguards against unauthorised access can help ensure that the digital infrastructure supporting household gas supplies remains resilient and trustworthy.

For CGD companies, smart metering can reduce manual intervention, improve collection efficiency, strengthen revenue assurance, minimise billing losses and provide valuable consumption data for demand forecasting and network planning. Regulators can benefit from greater transparency and data-driven monitoring of the expanding gas distribution network.

CEO Akhilesh Kumar Dixit while thanking the PNGRB for extending support in entering into Prestigious MOU said that

EESL’s experience in smart utility infrastructure provides an important foundation for the programme. The company has already installed and manages more than 44.5 lakh smart electricity meters across several States and UTs demonstrating its ability to execute technology-led utility transformation programmes at scale.

The PNGRB-EESL initiative therefore goes beyond replacing conventional gas meters. It represents a strategic step towards building a safer, smarter, cyber-secure and more efficient national gas ecosystem, supporting India’s energy-security objectives while encouraging greater adoption of cleaner natural gas.

As India moves towards a more gas-based and digitally enabled energy economy, Smart Domestic PNG Metering could become a critical infrastructure layer—combining consumer convenience, safety, cybersecurity, transparency and energy efficiency while strengthening the resilience of the country’s expanding CGD network.

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The Hans India