Over 120 MMR residents complain of forced smart meter installation, higher power bills

An awareness booth in Vile Parle East during a smart meter awareness drive organised across nine locations in the MMR on Sunday. Pics/By Special Arrangement

More than 120 residents from across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have submitted written complaints alleging forced installation of smart electricity meters, inflated bills and notices from power companies, following a citizen-led awareness campaign held across nine locations on Sunday.

The campaign, organised by social activist Kamlakar Shenoy and members of the Petitions Group, was held simultaneously in Matunga East, Byculla, Parel Village, Vile Parle, Santacruz East, Dharavi, Vashi, Thane and Virar West. During the two-hour drive, volunteers explained consumers' rights before collecting complaints from residents.

Shenoy said the complaints primarily related to smart meters allegedly being installed without consumers' consent, sudden bill increases and notices issued by electricity providers.

An awareness booth in Matunga East during a citizen-led campaign on smart meters

"Over 120 written complaints were received from consumers. The concerns include the forcible installation of smart meters without compliance with Section 171 of the Electricity Act and inflated bills. We will take up all the complaints with the concerned authorities and the police. If they don't respond, we are ready to approach the courts," Shenoy said. The group said it will compile the complaints and submit them to the authorities in the coming days.

What Shenoy says are the issues

>> Consumers are being told smart meters are mandatory, which he disputes.
>> He claims subsidies for smart meter replacement were meant only for public electricity utilities.
>> He alleges consumers are not being informed that smart meters are designed to support prepaid billing.
>> He says prepaid meters can be installed only if the consumer chooses them.
>> He claims consumers will ultimately bear most of the replacement cost over time.
>> He alleges the meters lack certification from the State Metrology Department.
>> He says electricity disconnections are taking place without following due notice procedures.

Voice of activists

Chetan Trivedi, Matunga East volunteer
"Matunga public is very adjusting, and they aren't motivated to speak up usually. We interacted with residents who were silent till now, even though they had experienced forced smart meter installations and subsequently inflated bills. The inflated bills are going up to Rs 1 lakh for a 3BHK apartment, while they should be a few thousand. We discussed their case in detail, made them understand their rights and handheld them through the complaint procedure on Sunday.

The drive was successful, and we are expecting even more participation in the coming weeks with more volunteers. Participants at Matunga ranged from senior citizens to Gen Z and small business owners. Residents are now motivated to register their complaints against power companies and their society committees, who forced these replacements on them. ‘We don't want smart meters' is the central demand of the participants."

Ashok Panchal, Vile Parle East volunteer
"Residents of both Vile Parle East and West reached out to us. We made them understand their rights. From slum dwellers to high-rise CHSL secretaries, we extended the awareness to many. We have noted the complainants' names, numbers and addresses. Now we will go door to door to collect documents. Residents have shared that power companies' area contractors are executing the illegal replacements by hook or by crook. We will be submitting a larger complaint to the area DCP as well."

Citizens speak

Matunga resident (name withheld on request)
"Smart meters have been installed in our society for some time now, and our bills have steadily increased since then. Our household bill went from Rs 6000 to Rs 8000, then Rs 11,000, and the latest bill for June is Rs 14,000. In June, we barely used the AC, yet bill was the highest."

Dharmendra Verma, Virar resident
"After a smart meter was installed at our residence by Mahavitran without informing us, our electricity supply was cut without any due notice over an unpaid bill. We have been in blackout since the day we lost electricity, which was the day we got to know that our old meter was replaced."