Current Affairs

Sign in
Polity and GovernanceGS2
GS2

Uttar Pradesh halts prepaid smart meters amid public complaints

Source:The Hindu ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for UPPSC aspirants tracking state government policy decisions, administrative governance, energy sector reforms, and public welfare measures in Uttar Pradesh.

Summary

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the immediate discontinuation of prepaid smart meters across the state. State Power Minister A.K. Sharma declared the decision, which responds to widespread public complaints regarding the installation, billing structures, and technical functioning of prepaid smart meters.

Key Points

  • The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to discontinue prepaid smart meters with immediate effect following public grievances and administrative reviews.
  • State Power Minister A.K. Sharma announced the policy shift regarding electricity metering systems in the state.
  • The decision addresses concerns raised by consumers regarding billing transparency, technical glitches, and the financial burden of prepaid electricity systems.

Important Terms

Prepaid Smart Meter Scheme

An electricity metering system where consumers pay for power in advance, which was recently scrapped by the UP government in favor of a postpaid system due to public grievances.

UPSC context

Important for UPPSC GS Paper V & VI under State Governance, Energy Policies, and Public Welfare Grievance Redressal mechanisms.

Source
Uttar Pradesh Government

The executive body governing the state of Uttar Pradesh, responsible for state administrative policies, public utility management, and welfare schemes.

UPSC context

Core for UPPSC GS Paper II and V, focusing on State Administration, Governance, Policy Implementation, and Public Administration.

Source
Power Department Uttar Pradesh

The state-level administrative department managing electricity distribution, power generation infrastructure, and consumer utility services across various discoms in Uttar Pradesh.

UPSC context

Relevant for UPPSC GS Paper III (Infrastructure: Energy) and Paper V (State Policies and Power Sector Reforms).

Source

Prelims Trap

Discontinuation of prepaid smart meters means the national Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has been scraped across India.

Aspirants may assume all smart meter mandates under national schemes like RDSS are permanently canceled nationwide, whereas this is a state-specific policy reversal by Uttar Pradesh.

Static Concepts Connected

Uttar Pradesh Economy & Infrastructure

What are the key objectives and components of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)?

  • Core Objective: A financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector reform scheme launched by the Ministry of Power.
  • Smart Metering: Involves pre-paid smart metering across electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) to reduce aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.
  • Conditional Support: Provides financial support to DISCOMs conditional on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving sustained performance benchmarks.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Smart Meters and State Fiscal Discom Restructuring

    UP's power sector reforms intersect with fiscal deficit management under FRBM and debt restructuring schemes like UDAY, linking technological rollout with state-level fiscal health.

  • Central Power Schemes vs. State Governance Realities

    Shifting from prepaid to postpaid meters in public utilities illustrates the tension between central policy frameworks (RDSS) and localized electoral/administrative feedback loops in large states.

UP power sector reforms, UPPCL backend transitions, and consumer grievance mechanisms will feature in state administration MCQs.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2025UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which of the following Department prepares the National Indicator Framework Progress Report related to Sustainable Development Goals in Uttar Pradesh? 1. Department of Finance 2. Department of Education 3. Department of Planning Select the correct answer from the code given below:

  • 2023UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which of the following scheme/s is/are related to Uttar Pradesh? (1) Anuthee Uphar Scheme (2) Matra Shakti Udyamita Scheme (3) Kaushalya Matritva Scheme (4) Stree Nidhi Scheme Select the 'correct' answer using the code given below -