Agartala: Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has formed a four-member task force to address and resolve issues related to the installation of smart meters amid growing concern among consumers.Power minister Ratan Lal Nath said the task force began work on Wednesday, aiming to enhance public trust by ensuring grievances about smart meters are managed transparently and quickly. Consumers and opposition parties have alleged that electricity bills rose sharply after smart meters were installed.The minister said the team’s role is to examine all complaints related to smart meters and recommend corrective measures. TSECL has also set up two dedicated WhatsApp helpline numbers for smart meter-related issues and appointed a senior manager to engage with these groups.“As part of the electricity reforms, and with the state govt’s agreement, TSECL installed several thousand smart meters across Tripura. This led to a significant spike in electricity bills, sometimes doubling the amount. In some cases, consumers reported receiving monthly bills of Rs 750 even with no power usage. Therefore, the installation of smart meters is currently halted,” a senior TSECL official said.Nath also cited a recent incident involving Ashok Kanti Das Roy of Lalchhara in Khowai district, who reported receiving a bill of nearly Rs 82,000 after a smart meter was installed.The minister said this concern was brought directly to his attention, which led TSECL to initiate an immediate investigation and a team visited the consumer’s home the next morning.The investigation found the previous electronic meter was functioning until June 25, 2025, when the smart meter was installed. Officials said the last reading of the old meter and the first reading of the smart meter both showed 11,148 units, and installation documents, including the consumer’s signature, were verified.The probe also found that for more than three years, the meter reader was allegedly providing readings that were artificially low, even though the meter was operating correctly. This manipulation, reportedly in collaboration with a corrupt meter reader and the consumer, led to reduced electricity bills over the years.Nath said disciplinary action was ordered, the meter reader was terminated, and action was taken against the billing agency involved.The minister said the task force was set up to ensure transparency and accountability in the smart meter programme and urged consumers to report genuine complaints through the WhatsApp helplines.
