LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh govt on Monday announced to discontinue the prepaid mode of smart electricity meters and operate all such meters in postpaid mode, following complaints from consumers regarding technical difficulties. TOI had been running a series on the issue for the last several months.There are a total 83 lakh smart prepaid meters out of 86.5 lakh smart meter consumers. Majority are 1kW and 2kW consumers.Announcing the decision, energy minister Arvind Kumar Sharma said, “Following the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that smart meters will now function like conventional postpaid meters, under which consumers receive monthly electricity bills instead of making advance payments. The move is aimed at providing relief to electricity users who reported problems with the prepaid system.”According to the revised arrangement, electricity consumption from the 1st to the 30th of each month will be billed in the usual manner, and consumers will receive their bills within the next ten days through SMS or WhatsApp. Payments will need to be made within the prescribed time frame after the bill is issued.The minister also directed the power department to ensure that electricity connections are not disconnected during the ongoing month cycle under any circumstances. Additionally, consumers with pending dues will be allowed to pay outstanding amounts in up to 10 installments.As part of the decision, the replacement of old meters with smart prepaid meters has been temporarily suspended. However, the govt has clarified that resolving complaints related to smart meters already installed will remain a priority.Consumers have been advised to update their mobile numbers with the electricity department to ensure timely receipt of billing and service-related messages.The decision comes ahead of the peak summer season. The minister said instructions were reiterated to officials during a review meeting at Shakti Bhawan on Monday to ensure uninterrupted power supply and to prevent inconvenience to the public during periods of high electricity demand.The state govt has maintained that consumer convenience remains central to its power sector policies and that steps will continue to be taken to address feedback related to smart meter implementation.Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma, who has been instrumental in smart metering issue, welcomed the UP govt decision and said, “Consumers of UP welcome the decision taken by CM Yogi Adityanath. However, as consumer representative, I demand that govt must withdraw the FIRs lodged against farmers and others who had staged protests against smart metering issues across the state.”
