Lucknow: A day after scores of prepaid smart meter consumers suffered power disconnections across the state due to negative balances, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has announced a one-time relief measure for prepaid consumers.According to officials, the decision has been taken because many consumers are still adapting to the prepaid smart metering system, which requires prior recharge for electricity usage. Under the relief measure, if electricity supply is disconnected due to a zero prepaid balance, consumers will have an opportunity to temporarily restore their connection. “If a connection is disconnected and the consumer recharges enough to reduce the negative prepaid balance by at least 50%, the electricity supply will be restored for three days. If the balance is not made positive within this period, the connection will be automatically disconnected again,” an official source said. UPPCL clarified that this facility will be provided only once to each consumer. The corporation has also advised consumers to keep their prepaid balance positive to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), around 78 lakh smart meters have been installed at consumer premises in the state so far. Out of these, approximately 70.5 lakh are prepaid smart meters. According to UPPCL, the smart meter system has been introduced to improve transparency and efficiency in electricity services. The meters provide accurate billing, detailed consumption data and reduce the need for manual meter reading. Consumers using smart meters are also eligible for a two percent rebate on the applicable electricity tariff. Officials said that when consumers switch from the postpaid billing system to the prepaid system, they receive the benefit of the security deposit they had earlier paid. The deposited amount is automatically adjusted against any outstanding postpaid electricity bills. If no dues remain, the amount is credited directly to the consumer’s prepaid balance. Under the prepaid system, electricity consumption is based on advance recharge. To help consumers adjust to the change, UPPCL provides a 30-day grace period after the transition from postpaid to prepaid billing. During this time, consumers can gradually adapt to monitoring their usage and recharging their accounts as needed.
