A committee established by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has proposed a nationwide transition to prepaid billing for domestic piped natural gas (PNG) meters to enhance the financial stability of city gas distribution (CGD) entities. The committee, led by Anjan Kumar Mishra, found that smart diaphragm-based meters provide significant advantages over traditional models, including automated readings and real-time monitoring, thereby reducing operational costs and bad debts. The committee's report highlighted that many domestic consumers default on payments, burdening CGD entities financially. To tackle this, it recommends that the government consider production-linked incentives (PLI) for manufacturers to lower costs for consumers and that any extra expenses related to smart metering should not be transferred to consumers. The panel also called for amendments to technical standards to ensure interoperability and security in smart metering systems. Established in June 2025, the committee evaluated the feasibility of smart metering technologies and proposed a structured implementation strategy.