The Ministry of Power has released the draft National Electricity Data Sharing Framework, 2026, to create a more organized, transparent, and efficient system for sharing electricity-related data across India. The draft was issued on June 22, 2026, and the ministry has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders, including power utilities, electricity regulatory commissions, research institutions, and other organizations. Feedback on the draft can be submitted until July 21, 2026.
The proposed framework aims to improve the way electricity data is collected, managed, and shared. At present, India’s power sector generates a huge amount of information from electricity generation, transmission, and distribution activities. This includes operational, commercial, and consumer-related data. However, much of this information is stored in different systems, follows different formats, and lacks common standards. As a result, policymakers, researchers, market participants, and other users often face difficulties in accessing and using reliable data for planning and decision-making.
To address these challenges, the Ministry has proposed the establishment of the National Electricity Data Centre (NEDC) and the National Electricity Data Portal (NEDP). These platforms are expected to serve as a centralized system where electricity-related datasets can be published in standardized and machine-readable formats. Although participation in the framework will be voluntary for different organizations in the power sector, the government believes that joining the platform will improve transparency, encourage innovation, and support better coordination among various stakeholders.
The framework will cover data from generating companies, transmission utilities, distribution companies (Discoms), Load Despatch Centres, and Electricity Regulatory Commissions. At the same time, it makes it clear that information related to national security and critical infrastructure will not be made publicly available. Sensitive data such as cyber security protocols, real-time strategic operational information, defence-related electricity infrastructure, and pre-market electricity bidding data will remain protected.
The draft also introduces a two-tier system for classifying data. Under Tier 1, public datasets that do not pose any risk to privacy, operations, or national security will be freely available for viewing. These include information such as installed electricity generation capacity, monthly power generation figures, and aggregated renewable energy statistics. Tier 2 will include access-controlled datasets containing more detailed operational information, including feeder-level data, load flow cases, and smart meter analytics. Access to these datasets will be limited to registered Indian entities that complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process and sign non-disclosure agreements.
To ensure compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, the framework requires that all personal or identifiable information be properly protected before data is shared. It recommends techniques such as anonymization, pseudonymization, tokenization, and spatial displacement to safeguard consumer privacy.
The framework also proposes that each participating organization may appoint a senior-level Data Governance Officer (DGO). The officer will oversee data classification, manage data-sharing requests, and handle complaints through a two-level digital grievance redressal system. Each level of the grievance process is expected to be completed within 14 working days. Through this initiative, the Ministry aims to improve data accessibility while supporting better planning in sectors such as electric mobility, urban development, renewable energy, and green finance.
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