Lucknow: UP’s five discoms have refunded Rs 32.75 crore collected as excess smart prepaid meter charges to 92,231 consumers, bringing the refund exercise ordered by the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) to a close.In an affidavit filed before UPERC on Thursday, UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) said 93,138 consumer accounts were initially identified for scrutiny. Of these, 907 were found to have STS (standard transfer specification) prepaid meters and had not been charged any excess amount, leaving 92,231 consumers eligible for refunds. UPPCL said credits have now been processed in all eligible accounts and no refund remains pending.The refunds relate to new connections where smart prepaid meters were installed after Sep 10, 2025. TOI ran a series on the issue and the regulator had found that discoms were charging meter costs based on the 2019 cost data book, although the cost subsequently approved for smart meters was substantially lower. UPERC’s revised cost data book in 2025 approved Rs 2,800 for a single-phase smart meter and Rs 4,100 for a three-phase smart meter. The earlier amounts being charged were Rs 6,016 and Rs 11,341, respectively.The commission had consequently ordered discoms to adjust the difference in consumers’ accounts. UPPCL’s latest filing shows that 84,587 single-phase consumers received refunds totalling Rs 27.2 crore, while 7,644 three-phase consumers were refunded Rs 5.54 crore. The discom-wise refunds were Rs 9.25 crore in Madhyanchal, Rs 9.37 crore in Paschimanchal, Rs 6.92 crore in Purvanchal, Rs 5.02 crore in Dakshinanchal and Rs 2.17 crore in KESCO.BOXUPERC pulls up discoms over non-compliance with smart meter ordersUPERC on Thursday pulled up discoms over alleged non-compliance with its directives on consumer refunds against the excessive charge for smart meter. UPPCL MD Nitish Kumar, PVVNL MD Raveesh Gupta, MVVNL MD Sandeep Bhagiya, PuVVNL MD Sandeep Kumar, KESCO MD Neha Jain and DVVNL MD Shruti appeared before the commission along with commercial directors and submitted affidavits.UPERC questioned why discoms failed to credit refunds in consumers’ accounts in a given time period (by Apr end), and why five discoms’ directors (commercial) were not present in the previous hearing.The commission warned that regulatory orders could not remain unimplemented and continued non-compliance could invite penal action. During the hearing, UPPCL apologised for missing the Jul 31 deadline for submitting its refund compliance report.BOXUPPCL faces scrutiny over non-smart meter connectionsUPPCL’s smart-meter policy has come under scrutiny after UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) alleged that non-smart meters were used for new connections in cities where smart meters were mandatory. UPRVUP submitted evidence to the UPERC of such connections in Noida, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Agra and Varanasi. UPRVUP chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma questioned how UPPCL’s software allowed these connections and demanded an independent probe into possible system deficiencies or arbitrary use. Around 2.83 lakh non-smart meters were installed during the Sep 10, to Dec 31, 2025 period for new connections.
