The Uttar Pradesh government has scrapped its smart prepaid meter system for electricity consumers and reverted to a postpaid billing system for all. The decision, announced on February 29, 2024, follows widespread consumer complaints regarding billing discrepancies, technical issues, and difficulties in recharging the smart meters.
Initially introduced in several districts including Lucknow, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, and Agra, the smart prepaid meter system aimed to reduce electricity theft and improve revenue collection. However, consumers reported receiving inflated bills, facing challenges with the online recharge process, and experiencing disruptions in power supply due to meter malfunctions. Numerous protests were held across the state demanding the removal of these meters.
The state government formed a high-level committee to investigate the issues. The committee’s report highlighted significant deficiencies in the system’s implementation and operation, confirming the validity of consumer grievances. Key findings included inaccurate meter readings, a lack of adequate customer support, and difficulties in addressing consumer complaints effectively.
Following the committee’s recommendations, the government directed all power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to immediately cease the installation of smart prepaid meters and transition all existing consumers back to the postpaid system. Consumers who had previously opted for the smart prepaid meters will be automatically switched back to postpaid billing without any additional charges.
The government has assured consumers that the outstanding balances, if any, on their smart prepaid accounts will be adjusted in their subsequent postpaid bills. The decision impacts approximately 2.5 crore electricity consumers in Uttar Pradesh. While the smart prepaid meter project is shelved, the government hasn’t entirely abandoned the idea of smart metering, suggesting potential future implementations with improved technology and consumer-friendly features after addressing the current shortcomings. The focus will now be on strengthening the existing infrastructure and improving the efficiency of the postpaid billing system.
