UP shifts smart meters from prepaid to postpaid mode
The Uttar Pradesh government has discontinued the prepaid mode of smart electricity meters and directed that all such devices operate in postpaid mode, following consumer complaints over technical issues. The move affects around 8.3 million prepaid smart meters out of 8.65 million smart meter users in the state, largely residential consumers with 1 kW and 2 kW connections.
Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma stated that smart meters will now function like conventional postpaid meters. Consumers will receive monthly electricity bills via SMS or WhatsApp within ten days of the billing cycle, which runs from the 1st to the 30th of each month, and payments will be due within a defined period.
The minister also directed the power department to avoid any disconnections during the current billing cycle under all conditions. Consumers with pending dues will be allowed to clear their payments in up to ten instalments.
The state has temporarily halted the replacement of legacy meters with smart prepaid meters. At the same time, it has prioritised the resolution of complaints related to already installed smart meters. Consumers have been asked to update their mobile numbers with the electricity department to receive timely billing and service communication.
The decision comes ahead of the peak summer season. The minister reiterated directions to maintain an uninterrupted power supply during periods of high demand.
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