UP News: The State Electricity Consumer Council of Uttar Pradesh has stated that thousands of consumers across the state are complaining of unusual surges in electricity bills and other related issues since the installation of smart meters. The consumers of several districts, including Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi, are mostly complaining of meter reading at an unusual pace and high bills. The power corporation management has claimed that check meters have been installed on five per cent of the total installed meters; however, the consumers council stated that the check meters were not being installed as per the standards. Council President Avadhesh Verma has also demanded a high-level investigation into the matter after receiving multiple complaints.

What are the allegations?

While providing details, Verma stated that out of about 32.47 lakh smart meters, there are about two lakh consumers who have been provided prepaid smart meters. He further stated that the council has received these complaints from both types of customers. The council president further stated that the current running of the meters is not being matched, as the check meters installed by the power companies are not as per the standards.

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He further stated that no action is being taken against the authorities even after hundreds of complaints of fast running and load jumping. Verma stated that changes were made in the software after complaints of load jumping were registered in more than two dozen smart meters in Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam. He further stated that similar complaints have been registered from all over the state, which should be investigated at a high level.

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How did power corporation respond? 

However, Ashish Kumar Goyal, the Chairman of Power Corporation, affirmed that they are taking all necessary steps to make the process transparent. Goyal further stated that instructions have been given to install check meters after receiving multiple complaints from the customers.