Govt offices to get smart prepaid electric meters

Kolkata: The state govt has issued fresh guidelines to facilitate the transition of all state govt offices to prepaid smart electricity meters, allowing departments, autonomous bodies and govt-controlled entities to clear outstanding power dues either in a lump sum or over a period of 300 days.The move comes in the wake of a directive from the Union govt mandating the installation of smart electricity meters in all govt offices across Bengal. Subsequently, the chief secretary directed that prepaid smart meters be made operational across govt establishments from Aug 1.In a memorandum issued by the finance department on Wednesday, the govt noted that the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) has begun the process of installing prepaid smart electric meters in state govt offices across the state.According to the order, all govt departments, autonomous bodies and govt-controlled entities under the state govt will be permitted to pay any unpaid post-paid electricity bills that remain outstanding at the time of switching to the prepaid system. These dues may be settled either through a one-time payment or instalments to spread over 300 days.The new provisions will come into effect from Aug 1, 2026.Govt offices will be granted a 10-day window after conversion to the prepaid system for the initial recharge of their meters. The order further provides for a limited negative balance facility and ensures that electricity connections of govt offices will not be disconnected during state govt holidays or beyond office hours.Recently, after a meeting with CM Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata, Union minister Manohar Lal said that the Centre directed the state govt to install two crore smart meters in Bengal over the next 3-4 years.