​7-day drive to resolve smart meter issues in UP

​Lucknow: The UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has launched a seven‑day statewide campaign to address grievances of smart meter consumers, following directions issued by additional chief secretary (power) and UPPCL chairman Ashish Kumar Goel.The decision was taken during a review meeting on Friday of power distribution works, where Goel expressed concern over delays in infrastructure projects and unresolved consumer issues.On Thursday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered a probe into issues related to the smart metering system.Goel thereafter ordered discoms to deploy a majority of their workforce to directly contact smart meter consumers and ensure speedy resolution of problems.Special focus will be placed on consumers whose connections were automatically disconnected due to negative balance and those who recharged but did not get supply restored. Officials have been instructed to personally contact such consumers, understand the reasons behind non‑recharge or technical failures, and ensure immediate corrective action.Goel also stressed the importance of preventing incorrect billing and directed immediate rectification of complaints, with daily monitoring of issues received through the 1912 helpline. Senior engineers have been asked to lead smart meter implementation and grievance redressal efforts at the field level.With summer demand rising, Goel instructed officials to expedite maintenance of transformers, lines, and substations, warning that transformer failures or power disruptions due to negligence will result in strict action. He emphasised that sufficient funds, manpower and safety equipment have already been provided.On revenue collection, Goel directed discoms to adopt mission‑mode bill recovery, identify underperforming officials, and intensify consumer outreach. Campaigns will also be run to check illegal power use and ensure compliance by defaulting consumers under the electricity relief scheme.​INSETUPERC notifies 21 member state advisory committeeThe UP electricity regulatory commission (UPERC) has issued a notification to constitute the state’s largest 21‑member state advisory committee under the Electricity Act, 2003. Chaired by the commission chairman Arvind Kumar, the committee will have ASC power Ashish Kumar Goel, MDs of discoms, consumer forum representative Avadhesh Kumar Verma and others. The committee will advise on key power sector policies and consumer interests.