UPERC refutes claims on smart meter consent, clarifies tariff order | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has dismissed claims that its tariff order prohibits switching smart meters to prepaid mode without consumer consent.The Commission clarified that the order only notes that PILs against mandatory prepaid meter installation are pending in various high courts. Until a clear legal position emerges, the Commission emphasized, consumers must be provided with accurate meters, whether prepaid or postpaid. If there are doubts about functionality, meters can be tested under the Supply Code, it said.UPERC said it is incorrect to interpret Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003, as granting consumers the right to choose between postpaid and prepaid options. The tariff order only mandates that new connections be issued with smart meters.Under RDSS scheme, 5% of old non-smart meters are retained as check meters for consumer confidence. So far, 3.41 lakh check meters have been installed and no smart meter has been found to run fast. Govt plan to install 2.73 crore meters, with 51.71 lakh smart meters already in place. Officials said smart meters are safe and record actual consumption like electronic meters, but eliminate manual reading and enable automatic billing.Consumers using prepaid smart meters can monitor hourly consumption via the UPPCL Smart Consumer App, recharge online, and receive alerts on balance status. They also get a 2% tariff discount. UPPCL has assured that sudden disconnections do not occur; alerts are sent at 30%, 10%, and zero balance, with a 30-day grace period and additional three days after balance expiry. Meanwhile, consumer advocacy group UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma claimed that the statement issued by UPPCL regarding smart prepaid meters is misleading.“The Corporation claims that the Electricity Regulatory Commission did not comment on Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003 in its tariff order. However, the facts differ. The UPRVUP had asked the UPERC whether smart meters be installed in prepaid mode or if consumers would have a choice. The tariff order on page 80 clearly states that Section 47(5) of the Act gives consumers the right to choose either postpaid or prepaid metering,” said Verma.
