Anger over digital smart electricity meters in Raipur has now moved from public complaints into the state assembly, with the opposition demanding an independent inquiry into faulty readings and inflated bills.
What Mahant's letter to the chief minister says
Leader of the Opposition Dr Charandas Mahant has written to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai seeking a fair, high-level investigation into the unexpected electricity bills and reading errors traced to the smart meters. In his letter, Mahant told the chief minister that ever since the new smart meters were installed, consumers have been struggling with a sudden jump in recorded electricity consumption and unusually heavy bills. He urged the government to take immediate note of these complaints in the public interest, get all the disputed meters technically inspected, and replace any meter found to be faulty without delay.
Complaints that meters keep running even after the main switch is off
Meanwhile, complaints have surfaced from several parts of the state that meter readings continue to climb even after a household's main power supply has been switched off. Technical experts have clarified that a meter's display staying lit, or the meter continuing to send out a digital signal, is a routine function and should not be mistaken for actual power consumption. Smart meters are designed to log real-time data automatically every 30 minutes, which is why some activity keeps showing on the screen even when appliances are off.
A five-minute test consumers can run at home
To clear up the confusion, the power department has shared a simple method, completed in just five minutes, that lets any consumer check their own meter's fairness. First, switch off every electrical appliance in the house, including the cooler, fan, TV, fridge, AC and motor. Then take a clear photograph of the kWh reading on the meter's display and note the exact time. Right after that, switch off the home's main switch as well. After exactly five minutes, take another photograph of the kWh reading. If the reading shows any change or increase during that period despite the main switch being off, consumers can use the two photographs as evidence to file a complaint at their local power distribution centre.
Power company insists the meters are accurate
Responding to the mounting questions, the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company has defended the smart meters as fully accurate and transparent. Company officials say a check meter was installed alongside the main smart meter at more than 4,800 consumer premises across different parts of the state for cross-verification, and the difference between the two readings came out to zero in every case. In addition, 74 smart meters were put through a detailed forensic examination at a NABL-accredited laboratory in Bhilai, carried out in the presence of the consumers themselves, and every meter was found to fully meet the prescribed standards.
