Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | June 11, 2025 | Kolkata : The state has been embroiled in controversy over the installation of smart meters in recent days. There have been widespread allegations that smart meters are being forcibly installed in homes, leading to complaints about excessive electricity bills. In response to these concerns, the State Electricity Department has announced a temporary halt to the installation of smart meters in residential properties.
According to a notice issued by the department, smart meters were being installed on an experimental basis in several households. However, following a surge in complaints regarding inflated bills and the perceived coercion in the installation process, the government has decided to suspend further installations for the time being. This move comes after significant protests from residents, particularly from the Rabindranagar Kalitala area in Hooghly, where locals voiced their concerns at the local Electricity Department office.
Residents have accused the authorities of forcibly installing the meters and noted a significant increase in their electricity bills after the installation. One such case involved a resident of Bandel in Hooghly, who claimed that after the installation of a smart meter, his bill for the month skyrocketed to ₹12,000—far higher than usual. Similar complaints from other consumers have prompted the state government to take action.
The issue came to the forefront when complaints from Chapadali intersection in Barasat were escalated to the Chief Minister’s office. After receiving these grievances, the Chief Minister ordered the Electricity Department to issue a formal notification halting the installation of smart meters in residential areas.
Several opposition parties have also raised strong objections to the smart meter installation. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), has accused the state government of attempting to privatize electricity services by forcing prepaid meters on the public. The opposition has argued that the prepaid system could leave consumers without electricity if they run out of balance, even in the middle of the night, causing severe disruption. Farmers, in particular, were highlighted as the most vulnerable group to suffer from such interruptions.
While the state’s power minister, Arup Biswas, had earlier dismissed these concerns, the recent notification from the government has confirmed the suspension of smart meter installations in residential properties, at least for now. The new decision, however, does not affect the installation of smart meters in government or commercial establishments.
The controversy has sparked widespread protests across the state, with opposition parties demanding further investigation into the matter and questioning the fairness of the new system. As the situation unfolds, the future of smart meters in residential homes remains uncertain, with public sentiment largely against the move.
