Uttar Pradesh News: Electricity connections of prepaid meter users who fail to maintain a positive balance will soon be disconnected, as the Electricity Corporation prepares to enforce stricter payment rules. Officials said the move is aimed at checking revenue losses caused by unpaid electricity usage, especially after the rollout of smart prepaid meters.

Under the new system, electricity supply will be cut once a consumer’s prepaid balance turns negative. Separate benchmarks are being planned for rural and urban areas. As soon as the balance drops below zero, an alert will be sent to the consumer’s registered mobile number. If the meter is not recharged, follow-up messages will continue to be sent. A final message will be issued before the power line is disconnected. Disconnections are expected to begin later this month.

ALSO READ: Dalit Woman Murder Case: Drama On Delhi-Meerut Expressway After Chandrashekhar Azad Stopped Amid Tension In Meerut; What's Entire Matter?

Smart prepaid meters were introduced in the Gorakhpur zone in September 2025. Since then, power supply has not been disconnected even when consumers failed to recharge their meters. This led many users to continue consuming electricity without payment, resulting in financial losses for the Electricity Corporation. To address this, officials decided to strictly enforce the prepaid model.

The issue was discussed in a recent meeting chaired by Dr. Ashish Kumar Goyal, where all Chief Engineers were present. During the meeting, engineers were asked to share their views on disconnecting defaulters. Following discussions, the corporation agreed to introduce a structured disconnection process with regular consumer alerts.

ALSO READ: UP: New EV Double Decker Bus Service Launched For ‘Lucknow Darshan’ | Check Route, Ticket Price, Timings

According to official data, smart prepaid meters have been installed at around 1.42 lakh consumer premises in the Gorakhpur zone so far. In the wider Gorakhpur–Basti division, more than 3.7 lakh smart meters have already been set up.

The executing agency has been tasked with installing smart meters for all 27 lakh consumers in the division within the next two years. Officials said the enforcement of disconnections is expected to improve payment discipline and strengthen revenue collection, while continuing to inform consumers well in advance before any action is taken.