Aizawl: Mizoram power and electricity department will conduct a four-day special complaint-redressal drive from Monday to Thursday to address grievances related to electricity bills and smart meters among Aizawl residents, officials said on Sunday.The initiative comes amid growing complaints from residents about high electricity bills following the installation of smart meters. Recently, a group of consumers also protested against high bills in Aizawl.Dedicated complaint booths will be set up at all electricity bill counters across the city, with designated officers and staff deployed to receive and address complaints, officials said. Consumers facing problems with their electricity bills or smart meters can lodge complaints in person at the bill counter serving their respective areas.Complaints that can be resolved immediately will be addressed on the spot, officials said.The department urged consumers to use the campaign and submit their grievances at the bill counters in their respective areas rather than wait for the regular grievance-redressal process.The complaint booths will be monitored by the department’s secretary and engineer-in-chief during the four-day drive, officials said.The department also clarified that the installation of smart meters does not necessarily result in higher electricity bills. However, officials identified several factors that could cause bills to rise after the new meters are installed.The first bill generated after installation may be higher because the initial billing cycle could cover a longer period than usual, officials said.They also said old meters may have recorded inaccurate readings because of meter faults, staff shortages or human error.
