Smart Meter UP News: Consumers with smart meters in Uttar Pradesh have received significant relief. Electricity supply will now continue for three days even at a zero balance, and connections will not be disconnected for a period of 45 days. Dedicated helpline numbers have also been released for filing complaints.

UP Smart Meter News Update: There is good news for electricity consumers in Uttar Pradesh—particularly for those who have had smart meters installed. If your home currently features a smart meter, or if one is scheduled to be installed, the government's recent decisions are highly relevant to you. Recently, Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma issued several major directives during a departmental review meeting; these measures will have a direct impact on both your finances and your electricity supply.

A common grievance among consumers was that their homes would be plunged into darkness the moment their meter balance ran out. The department has now relaxed this rule. For consumers with a load capacity of up to 2 kilowatts, a new regulation has been established: even if the balance hits zero, the electricity supply will continue on credit for an additional three days or until the outstanding amount reaches ₹200. Furthermore, connections will not be disconnected on Sundays or on any government holidays, even if the meter balance goes into the negative.

A 45-Day Safety Shield

In areas where smart meters have been installed recently, consumers are being given a grace period to familiarize themselves with the new system. Under the pretext of "conversion and testing," no consumer's electricity connection will be disconnected for the next 45 days. Additionally, the ongoing process of replacing old meters with smart meters has been temporarily halted. No new smart meters will be installed until the expert committee—comprising specialists from IIT Kanpur—submits its investigative report.

Where to File Complaints in Case of a Glitch?

If you notice that your meter readings are running excessively fast, or if your electricity supply has been cut off without any apparent reason, do not simply wait for the government to resolve the issue on its own; instead, register your specific grievance directly by calling these designated helpline numbers. The department has issued region-wise WhatsApp numbers for this purpose:

Madhyanchal: 766-900-3409
Pashchimanchal: 785-980-4803
Purvanchal: 801-096-8292
Dakshinanchal: 801-095-7826
KESCo: 828-783-5233

Additionally, you may also call the universal toll-free number: 1912.

5-Step Alert System

To ensure that consumers are not left in the dark, an SMS alert system has now been implemented. You will receive a message when your balance reaches 30% and 10%. Subsequently, messages will also be sent when the balance runs out, one day prior to the disconnection of the service, and immediately after the disconnection has taken place.