Lucknow: At least 8.48 lakh consumers are unable to view their outstanding electricity bill on UPPCL Smart App or official portal due to a technical fault in Uttar Pradesh’s smart prepaid metering system.The fault has raised concerns among consumers as the power corporation has started strict enforcement of disconnection rules for unpaid dues.Due to the problem of visibility of dues, at least 5.03 lakh consumers collectively owe Rs 212.13 crore of basic dues, along with additional Rs 434.9 crore arrears that continues to mount.The state has installed 61.64 lakh smart meters, with 47.43 lakh currently operating in prepaid mode. An AMISP review under the RDSS smart metering project, held on Jan 16, revealed that 31.79 lakh consumers carry a combined ‘negative balance’ (outstanding) of Rs 1,097 crore, a steep rise from Rs 904.16 crore reported just a month ago.Following the review, UPPCL issued fresh instructions to initiate disconnection for consumers whose dues remain pending beyond the permissible limit.Under the new rules, LMV-1 (up to 2 kW) and LMV-2 (up to 1 kW) consumers will face disconnection if their balance is unpaid for more than 30 days.Reconnection will require them to first clear at least 50% of the outstanding, apart from arrears adjustment. Consumers who recharge 50-75% of the pending amount will get three days to complete the top-up, while those who recharge 75-100% will get seven days. Failure to make payments within the given time will result in fresh disconnection. This relaxation will only be provided once to a consumer.For all other consumer categories, disconnection will occur immediately after the grace period ends. An interim seven-day emergency credit has been approved for the transition period. Reconnection will only be permitted once the payments are made.The corporation has also activated an automated arrear-recovery mechanism in which with every recharge, a fixed percentage will be deducted to clear old dues.LMV-1 domestic consumers will have 10-25% of each recharge adjusted based on the size of the outstanding amount, while all other categories will face a flat 25% deduction.Meanwhile, the move to snap connections has triggered criticism.UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma said that in three discoms — DVVNL, PuVVNL and KESCo — 8.48 lakh consumers were unable to check their balance due to the fault in application. “Without transparency, any action based on ‘negative balance’ is unjustified,” he said, demanding that no disconnections should take place until technical issues were resolved.An official said that the faults would be rectified before the end of the month.
