PNS|Vijayawada
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has ordered a detailed field-level inquiry into complaints of inflated electricity bills following the installation of smart meters in industrial and commercial establishments.
The directive comes in the wake of mounting concerns from consumers, who have reported significant hikes in their electricity bills since the deployment of the new meters. Responding to the issue, the Minister instructed officials to carry out a thorough assessment of the smart meters’ performance to ascertain whether the discrepancies are due to technical faults, procedural lapses, or actual increases in power consumption.
“I have received feedback indicating a spike in electricity bills after the installation of smart meters,” the Minister stated. “I have directed officials to investigate the matter thoroughly. We are committed to ensuring that not even a single rupee is unjustifiably charged to any consumer.”
He stressed that the functioning of smart meters would be examined closely at the field level and assured that any irregularities found would be promptly addressed. The Energy Department has been asked to submit a detailed report on the findings by Monday.
