Vadodara: A large number of people reached the Akota-based office of Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL) over teething problems with the newly installed Smart Meter system.  This was the first payment cycle after the installation of smart meters.

Gujarat government-run MGVCL has recently installed smart meters, replacing old meters. While in the old meters system, power bills would be issued on a post-paid basis, the new smart meters have a pre-paid mechanism.

A person from Akota village said, his power connection had disruption. When he inquired with MGVCL, he was asked to recharge for the resumption of power. He said he paid Rs. 2,000 but the power connection wasn’t restored. He also said that the Smart Meter mobile app was not efficient and not showing the required data. He said, he was asked to approach the Gorwa office of Head of the Department, but the issue was not addressed.

One woman demanded old meters, complaining that she had to pay more bills with the new Smart Meter system. Another lady showed her simple mobile phone and argued that if she doesn’t use a smartphone, how would she receive consumption and recharge alerts?

Many of those who participated in the protest were unaware that these meters differ from post-paid meters and require recharging. The primary complaint from most of them was that their meters showed higher consumption than usual. Several women mentioned that they did not have the funds to recharge suddenly. Paying such a high electricity bill means cutting back on other expenses, leaving nothing saved. The old meter provided regular bills, which was satisfactory. Many users even viewed smart meters as a form of extortion.

On the other hand, over a hundred people gathered at the collector’s office in Godhra to protest against smart meters. Their complaint was that the limit of up to three hundred rupees should be increased, especially considering that smart meters result in higher bills compared to the standard rate of Rs 10 per unit.

The Collector of Godhra mentioned that a meeting was held today with MLA and MGVCL officials regarding smart meters, during which people’s complaints were addressed. Given that this scheme is new, there are many questions and doubts among the public. Some suggestions have been put forward by MLAs and the public, which MGVCL officials have been urged to consider. In certain cases, the outstanding bill generated by the smart meter has been deducted from previous dues, which customers are still required to pay. Overall, the scheme is beneficial, and people are becoming more informed about their electricity consumption.

It’s worth noting that the price of each smart meter ranges from 8000 to 11000 rupees. However, customers do not need to make any upfront payments. MGVCL can directly access data from each meter. After completing a recharge, customers receive eight to ten hours of usage time, which extends to twenty-four hours on public holidays. Once this period elapses, the connection is disconnected. For those unable to recharge online, there’s the option to visit a Bill Collection Center. Real-time information about electricity consumption and recharge status is available through the mobile app. DeshGujarat