Lucknow: Residents, led by women protesters, held a demonstration at the Sector-25 power house in Indiranagar, opposing the installation of smart electricity meters. The protesters surrounded the sub-divisional office and demanded immediate withdrawal of new meters.The women alleged that smart meters have caused widespread inconvenience, with frequent billing errors and unclear charges increasing financial pressure on households. They claimed that electricity bills have become unpredictable and difficult to comprehend. The protesters demanded that conventional postpaid meters be restored in place of smart meters.Power department officials assured them that their grievances would be examined and complaints reviewed.Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) accused the UPPCL of continuing to enforce obsolete regulations to impose prepaid smart meters on new electricity connections despite the central govt withdrawing the mandatory requirement.According to the consumer body, amendments made under the Electricity Act, 2003, removed the compulsory prepaid meter provision with effect from April 1, 2026. However, an order issued by UPPCL on Sept 10, 2025, still mandates prepaid meters for all new connections.UPRVUP chairman Avdhesh Kumar Verma termed the practice unconstitutional and anti-consumer.
