UP Smart Meter Campaign from March 13: Power must be restored within 2 hours after recharge

UP Smart Meter Drive from March 13: As the power corporation prepares to launch a campaign from March 13 targeting consumers with negative balances on smart prepaid meters, the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Consumer Council has reminded authorities that electricity supply must be restored within two hours of recharge.

Council President and Central Advisory Committee member Avadhesh Kumar Verma said the drive is expected to cover more than 70 lakh consumers who are currently being shown with a combined negative balance of over Rs 1,400 crore under the smart prepaid system.

Council President Verma said that while the council has appealed to consumers to clear their dues in time, electricity companies must also ensure that the rights of consumers are protected as laid down in the UPERC Standard of Performance Regulations, 2019.

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He pointed out that under Regulation 16.11.1 of the commission’s rules, if a consumer’s electricity connection is disconnected due to non-payment of the bill, the licensee must restore supply immediately after the pending amount is paid. In the case of smart prepaid meters, power supply must be resumed within two hours after the consumer recharges the meter.

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If supply is not restored within the stipulated time, the electricity company is liable to pay compensation at the rate of Rs 50 per day until the power connection is restored, Verma said.

The Consumer Council also advised the power corporation to ensure its systems are functioning properly before beginning the campaign. According to Verma, once a consumer deposits the outstanding amount, the restoration of electricity should take place without delay.

He recalled that in the past, lakhs of consumers had faced power outages during Janmashtami due to a wrong command in the system, and said such incidents should serve as a reminder for authorities to keep the system error-free.

With summer approaching, the council has also appealed to electricity consumers whose balances are in the negative to recharge their accounts in time to avoid disruption in supply. Verma said that timely payment will prevent consumers from facing electricity interruptions during peak demand periods.

He further noted that under the law introduced by the central government, smart prepaid meters are being installed in households in prepaid mode, and electricity supply must be ensured to consumers in both rural and urban areas. If supply is not provided as required, compensation provisions are also applicable.

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The council president said electricity companies must implement these provisions in their systems in an automatic manner, stressing that the law applies equally to both consumers and the power corporation.

He also said that smart prepaid consumers should receive clear and transparent billing details so that they can easily track their electricity consumption and remaining balance.

Verma urged the power corporation and other electricity companies to strictly follow the regulations of the commission and ensure that in the event of any technical or administrative error, consumers receive immediate relief along with the compensation provided under the rules.