Smart meter rollout today: Quicker reconnection urged

Lucknow: As Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd prepares to roll out the smart prepaid metering system statewide from Friday, the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) has petitioned the state electricity regulator, seeking stronger safeguards for 70.44 lakh prepaid consumers.The state has already installed 77.10 lakh smart meters (both prepaid and postpaid) aimed at improving billing accuracy, transparency, and reducing manual intervention. Consumers have been advised to maintain a positive balance through digital platforms or UPPCL counters, as electricity supply will automatically be disconnected once the balance is exhausted. UPRVUP chairman and UPERC advisory committee member Avadhesh Kumar Verma said the UPERC Standards of Performance Regulations, 2019, mandate immediate restoration of supply after dues are cleared and require reconnection for prepaid users within two hours. Failing this, discoms must pay compensation of Rs 50 per day, he said. The UPRVUP has asked UPERC to shorten the reconnection window from two hours to 10 minutes.