Residents in Kaladhungi have raised complaints over unusually high electricity bills after installation of smart meters, with several consumers alleging sharp increases following conversion to prepaid systems. The issue has led to protests at the local electricity office.
Consumers from Vijaypur, Gulzarpur and Puranpur villages reached the power department office and confronted officials, demanding resolution of what they described as inflated bills and irregular readings. Many alleged that instead of resolving billing issues, the shift to smart prepaid meters has increased confusion and financial stress.
Hema Mehta stated that despite living in a two-room house and having a disabled husband, she received a bill of Rs 18,937 for 44 days. Deepak claimed that his 45-day bill amounted to Rs 16,000. Prema Tiwari, who works as a daily wage labourer, said she received a monthly bill of Rs 8,000, while Balbir Lal Dangwal reported a bill of Rs 13,000 for two months.
Consumers said the bills are comparable to peak summer charges under conventional meters, raising concerns about accuracy. They also expressed anxiety over prepaid balances turning negative, fearing disconnection of power supply. During the protest, villagers strongly objected to the situation and questioned the benefits of the new metering system.
Energy Corporation Sub-Divisional Officer Deepak Pathak said discrepancies may have arisen due to readings carried forward from old meters. He assured that meter readings would be verified and MRI testing of meters would be conducted to extract detailed data before taking further action.
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Social activists Arvind Kumar, Arvind Manral, Mohit Kumtiya and Nikhil Samant were also present during the protest. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the implementation and monitoring of smart metering systems in semi-urban and rural areas.
