Editor,
I wish to draw the urgent attention of the public and the Department of Power to a pressing issue. Over the past few weeks, various district authorities have circulated public appeals mandating that every household install a prepaid electricity meter.
While modernisation is welcome, the department is putting the cart before the horse. What Arunachal Pradesh desperately needs right now is a complete overhaul of our crumbling power infrastructure. Instead of rushing to install prepaid meters to secure advance revenue, the department’s immediate priority must be pole-to-pole rewiring, replacing decaying transmission lines, repairing faulty transformers, and fixing the frequent short circuits that plague so many households. A ‘smart’ meter on a broken grid does not improve the power supply; it only changes how we pay for it.
Furthermore, consumers must be aware of the severe disadvantages of prepaid meters, particularly in our state. In a region where mobile networks and internet connectivity are frequently disrupted by weather and terrain, relying on online recharges to keep the lights on is a massive gamble. A network failure on the recharge portal could leave families in the dark for days. Additionally, prepaid meters remove the financial breathing room that a postpaid billing cycle provides, meaning vulnerable households could face sudden, automated power disconnections at odd hours or during emergencies simply because their balance ran out.
I urge the public of Arunachal to reject the forced installation of prepaid meters and continue with their existing postpaid connections. If department officials attempt to forcibly install these meters, every citizen should know that they are protected by the law.
Under Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003, consumers have the fundamental, legal right to choose between a prepaid and a postpaid electricity meter. The law guarantees that no utility can force a prepaid meter onto your premises without your explicit consent. In the absence of your approval, the department is legally bound to continue using or installing a conventional postpaid meter.
What to do if you are being forced:
If department officials visit your home and attempt to forcibly convert your connection, you can protect your rights by taking these three steps:
- Submit a written objection: Do not verbally argue; put it on paper. Hand the visiting officials a written, signed objection citing Section 47(5) of the Electricity Act, 2003. State clearly that you do not give your consent to switch to a prepaid system.
- Demand postpaid billing: Request in writing that your current conventional digital meter be retained, or if a replacement is necessary, that a traditional postpaid meter be installed instead.
- Lodge a formal complaint: If the department officials disregard your legal objection and try to coerce you, file a formal grievance with the state’s electricity ombudsman or your local consumer grievance redressal forum.
Alternatively, the whole village can unite to file a collective petition in court.
It is time we held the authorities accountable. We must demand reliable infrastructure, consistent power supply, and safe wiring before we accept new, inflexible billing systems. Know your rights, stand your ground, and demand better service.
Musa Bhai