Pensioners’ forum opposes installation of smart meters

Amid mounting opposition to the installation of smart meters across the state, the Pensioners’ Forum of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) has extended its support to protesting power consumers.

In a statement issued here today, Kuldeep Kharwara, senior state vice-president of the forum, alleged that the HPSEBL bureaucracy was forcefully installing smart meters by replacing electronic meters, misleading consumers and violating their rights.

Terming the move as unjust to the consumers, Kharwara claimed that provisions in the proposed Electricity Act-2025 were aimed at benefiting corporate players in the power distribution sector. He alleged that private companies would manage electricity purchase and sale of data through centralised data centres. The real objective behind smart metering was being concealed from the public, he added.

“The officials are not disclosing that the cost of smart meters will be recovered from the consumers in instalments over nine years,” he claimed. Kharwara asked the HPSEBL management clarify that in case a smart meter is damaged after installation, who will bear the cost of new meter amounting to around Rs 9,500.

He further pointed out that under the Centre’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), projects worth around Rs 1,800 crore have been approved for the state, whereas tenders amounting to nearly Rs 2,500 crore have reportedly been awarded for the installation of smart meters for about 26 lakh consumers.

He added that nearly 13 lakh consumers, who receive up to 125 units of free power per month and currently get zero bills, would also be covered under the drive.

The forum leader expressed concern that installation of smart meters could render around 1,500 outsourced employees jobless and make the board staff surplus.

Kharwara maintained that the existing electronic meters and tri-vector meters installed on power transformers were functioning efficiently and fulfilling requirements.

“Replacing these meters, which have been installed by spending crores, amounts to wastage of public money,” he alleged.

Kharwara suggested the state government should focus on strengthening power supply lines, transformers and substations and recruit adequate manpower to make the board’s functioning efficient.