Smart meter complaints driven by myths, higher summer power use: Maharashtra minister

Minister of State for Energy Meghna Bordikar says allegations linking smart meters to higher electricity bills are largely driven by increased summer consumption and misconceptions about billing In an interview with midday she addresses complaints over faulty meters mandatory installation timeofday tariffs and the states target of completing the rollout by December 2026Excerpts from the interviewConsumers have alleged that their electricity bills have shot up after smart meters were installed Are the two connectedThe issue of allegedly inflated electricity bills is not linked to the installation of smart meters We have studied this in detail I had asked my office to compile samples of such bills although I dont have them with me at the momentConsumers who have complaints should first compare their current meter readings and electricity consumption with previous years The data is available online In most cases we are looking at summer months when electricity usage naturally rises Once consumption crosses 300 units the perunit tariff increases significantlyEarlier consumers blamed the average billing system This year smart meters are being blamed The billing mechanism itself has not changedElectricity tariffs are determined by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission The government cannot arbitrarily alter bills or pricing Every bill is calculated according to the approved tariff structure and actual consumptionBut there are case studies among users that point to many discrepancies midday explained the case studies we have gathered on the groundWe have received over four lakh complaints relating to faulty readings fast meters and technical issues Every complaint has been examinedWherever necessary we installed a check meter alongside the smart meter to verify readings In cases where faults were found corrective action was taken However such cases are relatively rareThere are several case studies in rural areas I have observed myselfgtgt In some villages records show far fewer registered meters than households indicating possible electricity theft or unauthorised connections Smart meters improve transparency and help immediately detect such irregularitiesgtgt Earlier consumers often complained about manual meter readers recording incorrect readings Smart meters eliminate manual intervention and greatly reduce the scope for human errorgtgt We have found cases where electric water pumps were left running overnight or appliances such as geysers and air conditioners remained switched on leading to unexpectedly high consumptiongtgt Even in areas where subsidised or free electricity is provided smart meters help identify misuse and improve accountabilitygtgt Smart meters are not limited to households They are also being installed at substations to monitor distribution losses and electricity theft across the networkSome consumers allege that smart meters are being installed without their consent and that they are being forced to accept them What is your responseThat is not true We are not forcing anyone or misusing the law There is no coercionIn cases where consumers oppose replacing their existing meter officials counsel them and explain the purpose of the installation We do not use forceHowever it is incorrect to say that smart meters are optional Existing electricity meters will eventually be replaced with smart metersConsumers receive SMS alerts about 15 days before installation In urban areas letters are sent to housing societies informing residents about the schedule In semiurban and rural areas we coordinate with district collectors and tehsildars to spread awarenessWhen will Maharashtra complete the smart meter rolloutAround 60 per cent of electricity meters in Maharashtra have already been replaced with smart meters Resistance has been observed in only about 10 per cent of installations We expect 100 per cent of the rollout to be completed by December 2026Why are timeofday TOD tariffs necessaryTimeofday tariffs encourage consumers to use electricity when renewable energy generation is highestIf electricity is consumed between 9 am and 5 pm when solar power generation peaks consumers are charged lower ratesThis is part of Indias transition towards clean energy under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Becoming a developed nation also requires changes in consumption behaviourQ What are the key benefits of smart metersgtgt Greater transparency in electricity consumptiongtgt Accurate billing based on actual usagegtgt Elimination of manual meterreading errorsgtgt Better detection of electricity theft and distribution lossesgtgt Improved monitoring of the power distribution network