Karnataka HC restrains State and Bescom from mandatory implementation of high-cost smart meters for permanent electricity connections  

Asking orally how poor people will pay for expensive smart meters for electricity connections, the High Court of Karnataka on Friday restrained the State government and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (Bescom) from making installation of pre-paid smart meters mandatory for all types of permanent electricity connections.

Contrary to regulation

The decision of Bescom is contrary to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission’s regulation, which makes smart meters mandatory only for temporary electricity connections and optional for all the new and existing electricity consumers, the court noted.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by Jayalakshmi M. of Doddaballapur.

The petitioner had moved the court as Bescom insisted that she purchase smart energy meter, by paying around 15 times higher than the price for the static electricity meter, for upgrading power supply to her residence to three-phase from single phase.

Is it due to ‘freebies’?

The court also orally asked the government counsel whether the decision to make smart meters mandatory has arisen due to giving various “freebies”, after it was pointed out on behalf of the petitioner that the electricity consumers are compelled to purchase exorbitantly priced smart meters even though KERC has not made it mandatory for new and existing electricity consumers.

Senior Advocate Prabhuling K. Navadi, who argued for petitioner along with advocate Abhinay S., also contended that the cost of smart meters in Karnataka ranges from around ₹4,800 to ₹28,000, and due to this, the electricity consumers will have to shell out an additional ₹23,000 to ₹39,000 per connection depending on the types of electricity connections as against the installation of existing static meters.

Mr. Navadgi also pointed out that the cost of smart meters in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh is only ₹900 as against the cost in the range of ₹4,800 to ₹28,000 in Karnataka.