Prepaid smart meters do not generate higher charges: APDCL

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The newly-installed prepaid smart meters are allegedly charging more than the previous post-paid meters, and many consumers have expressed resentment over inflated electricity bills.

Addressing the media on Monday, the advisor of APDCL's Consumer Relations Cell, Abhijit Sarma Baruah, said, "The electricity consumers should give us one month so that they can compare the post-paid and pre-paid electricity bills. They will realize that both bills are same."

According to Baruah, if a consumer converts the post-paid meter to a pre-paid one, on the 10th day of a month, the pre-paid meter will show the reading of the 10 days of post-paid meter and this amount will be deducted from the first month's charge. From the next month, the pre-paid charge will be same as the post-paid bills. "The consumers are worried because of the 10 days' charge that is deducted. But they have nothing to worry about in actual," he added.

Earlier, APDCL tweeted, "It has come to our notice that many consumers have raised grievances on the increase in electricity bills due to prepaid smart metres on various platforms. In this regard, this is to clarify that smart prepaid metres don't lead to an increase in electricity bills.

The tweet mentioned, "Moreover, in order to give relief to the consumers, we have facilitated payment of the last month's postpaid bill on a daily installment basis once the connection is converted to prepaid. However, if any consumers have any query or confusion regarding the postpaid to prepaid conversion process, they can call our helpline number (1912), and raise their query through our official website, www.apdcl.org, or myBijulee App, or through our social media handles (Facebook and Twitter) tagging @apdclsocial".

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