Only the companies installing meters are investigating, why is the shadow of doubt deepening on smart meters in UP?

News India Live, Digital Desk: Ever since smart prepaid electricity meters started being installed in Uttar Pradesh, one complaint has become common – “The meter is running too fast and the bill is too high.” Lakhs of consumers of the state are troubled by this problem. But now a twist has come to light in this matter, which has deepened this suspicion even further. It has been learned that the companies that have been given the contract to install smart meters at your home have also been entrusted with the responsibility of testing these meters.

This is just like handing over the keys of a safe to a thief. This system has given rise to a huge ‘conflict of interest’, and now consumers are asking who should they trust with their complaints?

What’s the whole mess?

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) has given the work of installing smart meters across the state to some big private companies like L&T, GMR, Adani and In-Charge. According to the rules, if a consumer feels that his meter is running too fast, he can complain about it. On receiving the complaint, the electricity department removes the meter and sends it for investigation.

But the problem starts from here. The labs set up to test these meters are also being run by these private companies. That is, the same company which installed the meter is checking whether the meter is correct or incorrect. In such a situation, how will any company accept that the meter installed by it is faulty?

Demand for third-party investigation is rising

There is a huge lack of transparency in this entire process. Consumers say that when the investigator and the accused are the same, how can one expect a fair investigation? For this reason, the demand to get these meters tested by an independent ‘third-party’ is gaining momentum. People say that the government should hand over the investigation work to an independent agency, which has nothing to do with the meter installing companies, so that the investigation report can be trusted.

Consumer Council also raised questions

The State Consumer Council has also raised serious questions on this system. He says that this is injustice to the consumers. Unless the meters are tested by an impartial and independent agency, the doubt in the minds of consumers that they are being cheated will not go away.

This matter is directly related to the pockets of crores of electricity consumers of the state. Now it remains to be seen what steps the government and the power corporation take to end this ‘conflict of interest’ and win the trust of consumers.