A strong protest erupted in Dehradun on Wednesday as BJP councillors and local residents surrounded the office of the Executive Engineer, alleging steep increases in electricity bills after the installation of smart meters. The demonstrators demanded an immediate inquiry into the billing system and action against officials responsible for what they termed as “unjustified and inflated charges.”
Our correspondent reports that dozens of councillors and residents gathered outside the Executive Engineer’s office on EC Road, raising slogans against the electricity department. Protesters alleged that smart meters were installed in homes without prior consent and that consumers had received unusually high bills since their installation. Many claimed that their electricity charges had nearly quadrupled compared to earlier months.
According to the protesters, the department had not issued bills for nearly eight months when old meters were in use. Once the smart meters were installed, consumers suddenly received accumulated bills that were far higher than their average monthly payments. Residents complained that their usual bills of around ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 had now increased to ₹1,800 or more, despite no change in power consumption.
The agitating councillors submitted a memorandum to the Executive Engineer demanding a thorough technical audit of all installed smart meters and a temporary suspension of billing until verification is completed. They also warned that if no action is taken, further protests would be organised, including the symbolic removal of meters from affected homes.
Our correspondent adds that several residents accused private contractors of forcibly installing smart meters despite their objections. In some localities, households reportedly had meters replaced even when occupants were not present, adding to growing resentment among consumers.
Protesters also alleged that the rollout lacked transparency, with selective neighbourhoods receiving new meters and others left unchanged. They demanded the introduction of “check meters” alongside smart meters to verify the accuracy of readings and prevent overbilling.
Electricity department officials met representatives of the councillors and assured them that the grievances would be reviewed. The department stated that a special technical team would be constituted to inspect malfunctioning meters and re-evaluate disputed bills. Officials also said consumers would be informed about any future billing adjustments through proper notice.
The protesters, however, remained dissatisfied with the assurances, stating that the department must take immediate steps to issue corrected bills and refund overcharged amounts. They argued that the issue had become a major burden for ordinary consumers and was undermining confidence in the government’s digital reform initiatives.
Our correspondent adds that the growing public discontent in Dehradun mirrors similar protests in other parts of Uttarakhand, where complaints about smart meter-related overbilling have surfaced in recent weeks. Residents have urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive review of the system before extending installations further.
The protest concluded peacefully after senior officials assured a written response to the councillors’ memorandum. However, the councillors maintained that unless consumer concerns are addressed promptly, demonstrations would continue in the coming days.
