Uproar over electricity meter in UP, allegations of forcibly entering employees’ houses

Lucknow. Vidyut Employees Joint Struggle Committee alleged that smart prepaid meters are being forcibly installed in the homes of employees. Through this, the concessional electricity facility previously provided to the electricity workers is being ended. Officials said, this is a clear violation of the written agreement with the CM and the Uttar Pradesh Power Sector Reform Act. The committee demonstrated at all the district headquarters on Monday and submitted a memorandum in protest against the installation of smart prepaid meters in the homes of employees. Officials said that on January 25, 2000, there was a written agreement with the then Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta that the electricity workers would continue to get the facility of concessional electricity. In the Transfer Scheme, 2000, made on the basis of this agreement, arrangements have been made to continue the previous facilities to the employees. The Sangharsh Committee has announced that a strategy for the movement on this issue will be made in the provincial executive meeting to be held in Lucknow on 26th February.

Burden being put on consumers in the name of smart meter

State Electricity Consumer Council Chairman Awadhesh Kumar Verma has accused consumers of putting additional burden. Said, this recovery is sometimes being done in the name of smart prepaid meter and sometimes in the name of fuel surcharge. Power Corporation should issue clarification on whether the cost of technology upgradation in smart prepaid meters will be charged from consumers in future or not. In future, if companies pass this burden on consumers, they will have to pay 5 to 10 percent additional electricity bill every month. He said that installation of smart meters in the state was started in the year 2019 with meters based on 2G and 3G technology. After the objection of the Council, the Electricity Regulatory Commission had clarified that the responsibility of technical upgradation will be of Energy Efficiency Services Limited. Now the company concerned is not bearing the cost of replacing about 12 thousand meters already installed, rather the meters are being replaced under the Revamped Distribution Scheme (RDSS). Till now, 4G technology based smart prepaid meters are being installed in the homes of 2.80 crore consumers under the RDSS scheme. The question arises that if technology changes in the future, will its expense be passed on to the consumers? He has sought clarification from the Power Corporation. Said, if power companies get the meter charges included in the tariff from the Regulatory Commission, then consumers will have to pay more than Rs 100 per meter every month. It is clear from this that the cost of replacement of smart meter will be recovered directly from the consumers. Whereas the Government of India had clarified that the cost of smart prepaid meters will not be passed on to the general public. Now companies are shifting its expenses to consumers through other means.