An unexpected power outage left several elderly residents living alone in a Noida neighbourhood without electricity for hours, sparking confusion and concern over the functioning of the prepaid meter system.
Residents said the electricity supply initially switched to inverter backup for nearly four to five hours before they realised it was not a routine power cut. Many in the locality are senior citizens, widows or individuals without immediate family support, making the outage particularly distressing.
Residents Rush to Power House
On Saturday, a group of residents visited the Sector 29 power house seeking clarity on the sudden disruption and a timeline for restoration. According to locals, officials asked them to share their prepaid meter account IDs and recharge details with the junior engineer present at the site.
One resident said he had Rs 1,500 in his prepaid balance at the time of the outage. “I regularly check my balance and ensure there is enough credit. Still, people advised me to recharge further,” he said.
‘Technical Fault’ or Low Balance?
Residents claim they were later informed that the issue appeared to be a technical fault related to the prepaid system and not due to insufficient balance on their part. The local RWA maintained that consumers had complied with payment norms.
However, power department officials presented a different version. According to the electricity distribution circle, multiple requests were allegedly sent to residents to recharge their meters. “When there was no response, supply was disconnected. Once the balance is recharged, electricity is restored automatically,” an official said.
The conflicting explanations have left residents seeking greater transparency in how prepaid disconnections are handled, particularly in areas with a high concentration of senior citizens.
The incident has reignited debate around the reliability of prepaid electricity systems and the need for clearer communication from utility providers.
