The rollout of smart prepaid electricity meters in Noida has hit resistance, with residents’ groups raising concerns over billing errors, power cuts, and system reliability. The Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations has urged authorities to temporarily halt the installation process until existing issues are resolved.
During a recent meeting with officials of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, RWA representatives highlighted that consumers are facing “serious operational problems” after the installation of smart meters.
Billing Issues and Sudden Power Cuts Raise Concerns
According to FONRWA general secretary KK Jain, residents are experiencing unexpected disconnections even after making payments. He pointed out that earlier complaints remain unresolved, while new issues continue to emerge, creating frustration among consumers.
Residents claim that the prepaid system lacks stability, making it unreliable for daily use. The demand from RWAs is clear — pause the rollout until the system becomes more dependable and transparent.
UPPCL Responds, Says No Plan to Halt Rollout
Officials from UPPCL, including chief engineer Sanjay Jain, acknowledged that there had been technical glitches, including a server crash earlier. However, they stated that the issue has now been fixed and system capacity has been improved.
Despite the concerns, UPPCL clarified that there are currently no plans to stop the installation process. Around 40,000 households in Noida have already been equipped with smart meters, and the rollout is continuing, though not aggressively.
Complaint Redressal Still a Challenge
Residents also raised concerns about limited grievance redressal mechanisms, particularly the dependency on a single billing office in Sector 18. Many feel that complaint resolution is slow and lacks proper communication.
In response, UPPCL officials said that dedicated monitoring groups have been formed, including RWA representatives. These groups are intended to track complaints in real time, assign them to relevant staff, and provide updates quickly to ensure faster resolution.
Trust Gap Between Consumers and Authorities
The ongoing situation highlights a growing trust gap between consumers and authorities. While smart meters are part of a broader push toward digital and efficient energy management, their success depends heavily on reliability and consumer confidence.
For now, residents in Noida remain cautious, insisting that technology adoption must not come at the cost of basic service stability.
