Smart Meter Update: Big Relief for Consumers as Prepaid System Put on Hold

Residents across Uttar Pradesh have been voicing strong protests against smart electricity meters. From villages to cities, angry consumers have even removed and discarded installed meters, claiming that faulty readings were leading to unusually high electricity bills.

Amid growing complaints, the state government has now announced major relief for electricity users. The Energy Department has decided that all smart meters in the state will temporarily function as postpaid meters instead of prepaid ones. This means consumers will no longer need to recharge electricity in advance.

Smart Meters To Work Like Regular Meters

Under the new decision, consumers will receive electricity bills at the end of every month, just like the earlier system. Bills for electricity usage from the 1st to the 30th of each month will be sent through SMS and WhatsApp within the next 10 days.

Consumers must pay the bill within the given deadline. The electricity department has also advised people to update their mobile numbers to receive bill alerts and meter notifications without interruption.

Big Relief From Power Cuts

The government has also instructed officials not to disconnect electricity connections during the month under any condition. This is expected to provide huge relief to domestic consumers, especially families with smaller electricity connections.

Another major benefit is for consumers with pending electricity dues. They will now be allowed to clear their arrears in 10 easy installments, reducing the burden of one-time payments.

Installation Of New Smart Meters Paused

The replacement of old electricity meters with new smart or prepaid meters has been temporarily stopped. However, authorities said complaints linked to recently installed smart meters will be addressed on priority.

What Energy Minister AK Sharma Said

State Energy Minister AK Sharma stated in Lucknow that several technical issues surfaced after the introduction of prepaid smart meters.

According to him, domestic consumers, especially those with electricity connections up to 1 kilowatt, will continue receiving power supply for 30 days even if their account balance becomes negative. The move is aimed at making the billing system simpler and reducing stress for small consumers.

Do Smart Meters Really Record Higher Usage?

One of the biggest allegations against smart meters has been that they run faster than conventional meters and increase electricity bills. However, the electricity department has rejected these claims.

Officials maintain that smart meters calculate electricity usage in the same way as regular meters and do not add extra or incorrect readings.