UP Consumers Face Hike in Electricity Bills: UPPCL’s Smart Prepaid Meters Could Pinch Wallets

Lucknow: Electricity consumers in Uttar Pradesh may soon see an increase in their bills as the state implements smart prepaid meters. The Ministry of Power has directed all electricity regulatory commissions to include the full cost of these smart meters in consumer tariffs. If enforced, this could lead to a significant rise in electricity rates.

Avadhesh Kumar Verma, Chairman of the State Electricity Consumers Council, warned that both fixed charges and energy charges are likely to increase under this decision. He criticized the move, stating that consumers were initially assured that replacing meters would not burden them financially.

Double Burden on Consumers
Verma highlighted that while India’s central government had approved ₹18,885 crore for smart meter installation in UP, the tender was awarded at ₹27,342 crore—nearly ₹8,500 crore higher. He argued that the extra cost would benefit large industrialists while ordinary consumers would bear the brunt.

Currently, Uttar Pradesh has around 3.62 crore electricity consumers. If the average cost of a single-phase meter is considered ₹872, consumers have already paid approximately ₹2,616 crore when obtaining their connections. Including three-phase meters, this amount rises to nearly ₹3,000 crore.

The council chairman emphasized that consumers are being subjected to double charges: first, paying for meters at the time of connection, and now facing higher electricity rates to cover the full cost of smart prepaid meters.

Consumer Council Voices Strong Protest
In response, Avadhesh Kumar Verma has sent a protest memorandum to the Central Secretary of Energy and Union Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, calling the directive “a clear betrayal of consumers.” The council has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order.