LUCKNOW: Following directions from chief minister Yogi Adityanath, UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has formed a four-member committee to examine complaints about the quality and connectivity of smart meters.The decision comes after a review meeting held on Apr 9 with state energy minister Arvind Kumar Sharma and senior officials, where the CM called for a probe into issues linked to the smart meters.The committee, constituted on Apr 12, includes Prof Ankush Sharma from IIT-Kanpur’s electrical engineering department, Prof Prabodh Bajpayee from IIT Kanpur’s sustainable energy engineering department, Tejas Mistry from the electrical research and development association in Vadodara, and UPPCL director (distribution) GD Dwivedi.A panel member said members were formally informed about their roles on Apr 13.According to the UPPCL chairman’s official memorandum, the panel has been tasked with examining technical concerns and submitting its findings within 10 days.The memorandum acknowledged that UPPCL has been receiving complaints regarding meter quality and connectivity, despite maintaining that most meters are functioning properly. “UP has installed 85 lakh smart meters, and they are working fine with no major technical issues. To ensure monitoring, discoms have installed check meters for around 5% of connections. However, grievances related to meter quality and connectivity have been reported from various quarters,” the letter stated.The letter reiterates that smart meters are being installed in accordance with Central Electricity Authority (CEA) guidelines, which recently clarified that prepaid mode is optional, not mandatory. However, concerns have been raised by consumer representatives.“Despite the clarification, UPPCL has made prepaid-mode smart meters mandatory for new connections and is converting existing postpaid consumers to prepaid mode without their consent under the RDSS scheme,” alleged Avadhesh Kumar Verma, a member of UPERC’s supply code review panel sub-committee and chairman of the UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP).Verma demanded that UPPCL immediately suspend the prepaid smart metering programme until the committee submits its findings, citing consumer interest and transparency concerns.
