Paper Number
ECIS2026-1739
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
Smart meters are central when digitalizing electricity systems, yet adoption in resource-constrained settings remains uneven. This qualitative case study examines smart meter adoption in Sri Lanka through the analytical lens of a nationwide blackout, an event that revealed weaknesses in the country’s electricity system. Then, the analysis applies Socio-Technical Systems theory to identify and explain the mechanisms (temporal inversion, organizational fragmentation, trust-as-infrastructure, and market precarity) that create and sustain socio-technical misalignment. Rather than treating these mechanisms as isolated barriers, the study interprets them as dynamically interacting processes that shape how digital energy transitions unfold under constraint. Through this lens, the paper develops a process-oriented explanation of misalignment and translates its insights into a phased roadmap that links technical readiness, institutional coordination, public trust, and affordability in relation to smart meter adoption.
Recommended Citation
Rajaguru, Shashini; Johansson, Björn; and Viscusi, Gianluigi, "Smart Meter Adoption In Developing Countries: A Socio-Technical Perspective" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 8.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/is_adopt/is_adopt/8
Smart Meter Adoption In Developing Countries: A Socio-Technical Perspective
Smart meters are central when digitalizing electricity systems, yet adoption in resource-constrained settings remains uneven. This qualitative case study examines smart meter adoption in Sri Lanka through the analytical lens of a nationwide blackout, an event that revealed weaknesses in the country’s electricity system. Then, the analysis applies Socio-Technical Systems theory to identify and explain the mechanisms (temporal inversion, organizational fragmentation, trust-as-infrastructure, and market precarity) that create and sustain socio-technical misalignment. Rather than treating these mechanisms as isolated barriers, the study interprets them as dynamically interacting processes that shape how digital energy transitions unfold under constraint. Through this lens, the paper develops a process-oriented explanation of misalignment and translates its insights into a phased roadmap that links technical readiness, institutional coordination, public trust, and affordability in relation to smart meter adoption.