kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata: In response to growing public unrest and protests in various parts of West Bengal, the state government has issued an official notice regarding the installation of smart electricity meters. The move comes amid rising concerns among residents over billing transparency, alleged overcharging, and lack of proper communication regarding the implementation of the new system.

Over the past few weeks, several areas including North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Burdwan, and parts of Kolkata have witnessed demonstrations by local residents, many of whom have demanded the immediate suspension of smart meter installations. Protesters claim they were neither informed nor consulted before the meters were installed, and many allege sharp hikes in electricity bills following the transition.

Facing mounting pressure, the state’s Power Department on Monday released a formal statement aimed at addressing public apprehensions. According to the notice, no consumer will be forced to accept a smart meter without proper awareness, consultation, and verification. The notice also instructed power distribution companies to temporarily pause installations in areas witnessing large-scale protests.

“The smart meter installation process is part of a national digital upgrade in power distribution, but it must be done with transparency and consent. Consumers must be educated about the benefits, usage, and billing process before any change is made,” the notice read.

State Power Minister Aroop Biswas also held a press conference to calm public fears. He clarified that smart meters are meant to improve billing accuracy and eliminate manual errors, not to increase electricity costs. “There is a lot of misinformation being spread. Smart meters do not lead to inflated bills. The charges depend on actual usage. We will ensure that consumer rights are protected during the rollout,” Biswas said.

Public resistance continues to grow. In several towns, local residents have accused technicians of installing meters without notice or permission, sometimes in the absence of the homeowner. Many protestors are elderly or from low-income backgrounds, claiming they are unable to operate or understand the digital meters and suspect foul play in billing.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has been directed to conduct public outreach sessions in all affected zones, explaining the functioning and advantages of smart meters, such as real-time monitoring of consumption, faster fault detection, and the option to recharge prepaid accounts online.

Political reactions have also intensified. The opposition BJP accused the TMC government of "forcing technology on people without accountability." Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, “Instead of fixing power outages and transformer failures, the government is obsessed with technology-driven showpieces. People's basic concerns are being ignored.”

In contrast, the Trinamool Congress defended the upgrade, pointing out that the smart meter initiative is a central government-funded project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), meant to modernize the power sector and reduce transmission losses.

Consumer rights bodies have welcomed the government’s notice but urged for more stringent safeguards. “It’s good that the government has acknowledged public concern, but it must now build mechanisms for grievance redressal and give people the option to opt out or delay adoption,” said Pratima Mukherjee, a member of the West Bengal Consumers’ Forum.

As the state prepares to resume installations in phases, officials confirmed that no meter will be installed without proper verification and communication. The Power Department has also announced a dedicated helpline and portal where consumers can lodge complaints or seek clarification about smart meter billing.

The government hopes that clarity, transparency, and education will ease tensions and pave the way for smoother adoption of the new technology, without further alienating already skeptical consumers.