Activists oppose ‘forced’ installation of smart meters

Opposition to the installation of smart electricity meters is gaining momentum. Political leaders, consumer rights groups and local residents are opposing what they term as “forced installation of smart meters” by the state government. They urge the government to seek the prior consent of the consumers before installing smart meters and not impose the new system forcibly.

Various consumer help groups, while addressing mediapersons here today, said that while technological advancement in the power sector was necessary, it could not be implemented at the cost of consumer interests. They alleged that smart meters were being installed without first creating adequate public awareness, transparency or consultation, thus creating widespread confusion.

BK Sood, a member of the Power Consumer Forum, expressed serious concern over the possibility of inflated electricity bills, inaccurate readings and hidden charges after the installation of smart meters. He also raised questions about data privacy.