The Uttar Pradesh government has officially withdrawn the mandatory prepaid smart meter system for electricity consumers across the state, reinstating the traditional postpaid billing method. This significant policy shift, announced on May 5, 2026, comes in response to widespread public dissatisfaction, technical glitches, and alleged billing irregularities that had led to protests and public outcry.
Rollback Amidst Public Outcry
The decision to discontinue the mandatory prepaid system marks a considerable climbdown for the state administration, which had been actively promoting the adoption of smart meters. The move follows a period of intense public protest and increasing political pressure, particularly from opposition parties, who framed the prepaid meter system as a source of corruption and public exploitation.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that approximately 75 lakh electricity connections that had been converted to the prepaid mode over the past year will now be reverted to the postpaid system. The ongoing drive to replace conventional meters with prepaid smart meters has been temporarily halted as the government re-evaluates its strategy. New electricity connections, however, will continue to be issued with smart meters, but these will operate exclusively in postpaid mode.
Key Changes and Consumer Relief
Under the revised framework, consumers will now receive monthly electricity bills, similar to the previous postpaid system. A payment window of 15 days from the billing date will be provided for consumers to clear their dues. Officials have assured that electricity disconnection will not occur within the monthly billing cycle. For consumers with pending dues accumulated under the prepaid system, the government has introduced a provision allowing them to clear these outstanding amounts in up to 10 installments.
To facilitate consumers and address grievances, special camps will be organized at division and sub-division levels throughout May and June. Consumers can also access their bills through WhatsApp chatbots by providing their connection number or lodge complaints via the dedicated 1912 helpline. Those who have changed their mobile numbers have been advised to update their details to ensure continued receipt of billing alerts and important communications.
Political Reactions and Context
The reversal of the prepaid meter policy has been met with strong reactions from political leaders. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed the government’s decision as a victory for “people’s power” and sustained public opposition. He accused the ruling party of inflating electricity bills under the guise of prepaid metering and demanded that any excess charges collected be logically adjusted in future bills, warning of further agitation if this demand is not met. Yadav also drew a parallel between the use of technology for electoral systems and the need for logical adjustments in billing discrepancies, questioning the government’s approach to technology in public service delivery.
The controversy over smart and prepaid meters had become a significant political flashpoint, with opposition parties aiming to corner the state government ahead of upcoming elections. Protests against the system had been reported across various districts, with consumers alleging forced migration to prepaid systems, lack of transparency in billing, and operational faults leading to frequent power outages despite advance payments. Some reports suggested that a significant number of smart meters were shifted to prepaid mode without proper consumer consent, a claim that intensified the political opposition.
In response to the escalating criticism, state Energy Minister A.K. Sharma had previously defended the smart meter initiative, attributing the issues to technical difficulties and dismissing allegations of higher power bills, stating that the machines themselves are not biased. However, the persistent public discontent and the political ramifications appear to have prompted the government’s policy reversal.
The Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to abandon the mandatory prepaid smart meter system and revert to postpaid billing signifies a strategic adjustment aimed at appeasing public sentiment and resolving long-standing consumer grievances. The focus will now shift to ensuring a smoother billing process and addressing the concerns of the approximately 75 lakh consumers who were transitioned to the prepaid system.
The Chenab Times News Desk