Guna Resident Gets ₹49.4 Lakh Electricity Bill; Locals Protest Against Smart Meters

Guna (Madhya Pradesh): An electricity consumer received a major jolt when he was slapped with a ₹49.41 lakh bill, in Guna. He is not alone, scores of people from over 30 colonies have got hefty power bills, and they are all blaming it on the newly installed smart meters.  

Gautam Pateliya of Brijbihar Colony reported receiving a staggering bill of ₹49.41 lakh for a household with no AC and a non-functional TV. He usually received a bill that never exceeded ₹1,500.

Another woman, a vegetable vendor, tearfully shared her plight; she received a ₹28,000 bill even though her house has just one bulb and a fan.

Another consumer, Abhishek Sen, earning ₹8,000 monthly, was shocked by a ₹13,000 bill.

Protesters said that these inflated bills are not isolated incidents but a widespread issue wherever smart meters have been installed.

On Tuesday, they reached the collectorate under the banner of All-India Electricity Consumers Association and submitted a memorandum, addressed to Chief Minister, demanding removal of smart meters and the cancellation of the proposed privatisation of the electricity department.

“People are doing the rounds of the offices to get their bill rectified, but are getting no relief. If the smart meter scheme and privatisation policy are not withdrawn, they will be forced to launch an aggressive movement,” said one of the protestors.

Manish Srivastava of the association criticised the government's stance and demanded cancellation of electricity privatisation policies.