The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) on September 15, 2026, issued the Legal Metrology (General) Fifth Amendment Rules, 2026, to further amend the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
The following has been amended, namely:
• The amendment inserts a new Part XIV in the Eighth Schedule, specifically prescribing metrological and technical requirements for Active Electrical Energy Meters. The provisions cover definitions and classifications of electricity meters, including interval, prepayment, multi-tariff, direct-connected, transformer-operated, electromechanical and static meters, along with requirements relating to current, voltage, frequency, power factor, energy flow, registers, accuracy class and maximum permissible errors.
• The new framework lays down detailed accuracy, performance and testing requirements for such meters, including operating conditions, permissible errors, temperature effects, voltage/frequency variations, harmonics, electromagnetic disturbances, overloads and other abnormal conditions. It also prescribes requirements for meters capable of measuring bi-directional energy flow, including appropriate registration of positive and negative energy, and provides different accuracy classes with specified maximum permissible error limits. Meters shall be designed to avoid significant faults under specified disturbances and shall incorporate appropriate checking/indication mechanisms where required.
• The amendment further provides for type evaluation, type approval, and verification of active electrical energy meters, requiring conformity with the prescribed technical and metrological standards before approval. Initial verification is mandatory for meters, while re-verification applies to repaired or otherwise modified meters and in-service meters according to the prescribed periods.
• The Rules will come into force 180 days after their publication in the Official Gazette, i.e., March 17, 2027, thereby providing manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders a transition period for compliance.
[Notification No. - GSR. 809(E)]
