The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) has established a four-member task force to address mounting complaints about smart meters, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced in a video post on Wednesday night. The move follows widespread protests by opposition parties, including CPI(M) and Congress, over the installation of smart meters and alleged billing irregularities.

“Some consumers are unhappy with smart meters, so I’ve directed TSECL to form this task force for quick resolution,” Nath said. Consumers can lodge complaints via two dedicated WhatsApp groups (6033131966 and 6909981274), with the task force instructed to act promptly. Nath defended smart meters as “reliable and trusted,” citing their role in modernizing Tripura’s power infrastructure under the Centre’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.

The announcement comes after a TSECL probe uncovered fraudulent billing in Khowai district’s Lalcheera, where a consumer colluded with a meter reader for average billing over three years. After a smart meter was installed last month, the consumer’s bill surged to over Rs 82,000, sparking outrage. TSECL suspended the meter reader and issued a show-cause notice to the billing agency, TDS Management Consultants Pvt Ltd, for breaching trust and causing revenue loss.

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Despite TSECL’s plan to install 6 lakh smart meters by March 2027, with 89,632 already deployed, opposition remains fierce. CPI(M) leader Jitendra Chaudhury claimed smart meters have led to exorbitant bills, while the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) protested at TSECL’s headquarters, demanding a rollback of the initiative and recent tariff hikes. Nath clarified that consumers may retain both old and smart meters if desired and urged reporting discrepancies through official channels.

TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu emphasized that smart meters enhance transparency and efficiency, offering real-time data and prepaid billing options. However, with Rs 450 crore in unpaid bills from five lakh consumers, the corporation faces financial strain, underscoring the need for modernization.

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