Electricity consumers across Uttar Pradesh have been raising a storm of complaints for weeks. Their smart prepaid meters, installed by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL), are showing inflated bills. Many say their meters run faster than actual consumption. Others report sudden disconnections without warning. The anger has spread from cities to villages, putting the Yogi government on notice.
CM Yogi Adityanath took direct note of the complaints pouring in from across the state. He called a review meeting of the Energy Department and made his stand clear: “The common consumer is naturally honest and, if provided with a correct bill on time, does not hesitate to pay.” He added that no consumer should face disconnection when they are not at fault.
The problem is big. The number of electricity consumers in UP has jumped from 1.65 crore in 2017 to more than 3.71 crore in 2026 — a rise of nearly 126 per cent. Rolling out smart meters at this scale was always going to be a challenge. But the pace of installation outran the quality checks, and now thousands of consumers are paying the price — literally.
Government Hits the Pause Button
The government has put the entire process of replacing old meters with smart meters on hold across the state until a technical review is complete. This is a big step. It shows the CM is not willing to push a flawed system onto consumers just to meet targets.
CM Yogi ordered the formation of a high-level expert panel to investigate the widespread complaints of overbilling linked to newly installed smart meters. The panel will review meter data, examine installation practices, and identify technical or procedural causes behind billing discrepancies. The four-member committee includes Professor Ankush Sharma and Professor Prabodh Bajpai from IIT Kanpur, Tejas Mistry from the Electrical Research and Development Association in Vadodara, and G.D. Dwivedi, Director (Distribution) at UPPCL. The committee will submit its report within 10 days.
Big Relief for Consumers Right Now
The government has not waited for the committee’s report to start acting. It has rolled out several relief measures immediately.
Energy Minister AK Sharma announced that even if a smart prepaid meter runs out of balance, electricity will not be cut for up to three days or until Rs 200 worth of usage — whichever comes first — for connections up to two kilowatts. Households that recently got smart meters also get a 45-day grace period before any disconnection.
The minister also directed that no electricity connection will be disconnected on Sundays or public holidays, regardless of negative balances. A five-level SMS alert system now warns consumers as their balance drops to 30%, 10%, zero, and beyond.
For complaints, consumers can call the toll-free number 1912, log onto www.uppcl.org, or use the UPPCL WhatsApp chatbot. Officials have instructions to monitor complaints daily and resolve them fast.
The Yogi government’s message is clear: consumer trust comes before technology rollout. Smart meters may be the future — but not at the cost of fair billing today.
