CPI(M) leader Donepudi Kasinath and Ch. Babu Rao (right) at a press conference in Vijayawada on Wednesday displays a copy of the notice served by CPDCL to consumers for installation of smart meter. | Photo credit: KVS GIRI
CPI(M) State Secretariat Member Ch. Babu Rao said on Wednesday (Dec 17) that DISCOMs are serving notices to consumers and insisting that they have smart meters installed or face service disconnection. In a press meet where he was speaking along with party president Donepudi Kasinath, he displayed one such notice sent by CPDCL to consumers in Vijayawada.
Mr. Babu Rao recalled that the government had earlier assured consumers that it would not forcibly install smart meters, but had apparently done a U-turn as per the recently issued notices. He submitted that in the said notification, the DISCOM was looking for legitimate reasons not to let the IRDA devices be replaced by smart meters thereby putting pressure on the consumers.
This tactic made it clear that the government had decided to install smart meters provided by Adani Energy Solutions Limited at the expense of about two million consumers. The installation of smart meters put a burden of ₹25,000 crore on the state exchequer at a time when the state was reportedly facing a tight budget, he noted.
Mr. Babu Rao said that leaders of TDP, Jana Sena and BJP had opposed smart meters before the elections but now they are keeping stoic silence even as DISCOMs create illusions about smart meters and increase pressure on people to allow installation of devices. DISCOMs were also in the process of levying remedial charges of over ₹12,000 crore.
The Union and state governments have agreed to hand over the entire electricity distribution system to private companies, of which the installation of smart meters was a major step, Mr. Babu Rao said, adding that the Left parties would stage nationwide protests if the government did not stop the installations immediately.
Published – 17 Dec 2025 19:41 IST
