Lucknow: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh strongly accused the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of carrying out “open loot” of the public in the name of smart meters. Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow, Singh alleged that the government’s decision to forcibly install smart meters is anti-people and a clear violation of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Sanjay Singh said the government order mandating smart meters violates Section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which prohibits the installation of any meter without the consent of the consumer. “Despite this legal provision, the government is forcibly installing smart meters. The Aam Aadmi Party will strongly oppose this Tughlaqi order and will fight this battle from the streets to Parliament and, if required, even in the courts,” he said.
The AAP MP alleged that lakhs of electricity consumers are being cheated under the smart meter scheme. Recalling the installation of 2G smart meters in 2018, Singh said people had protested even then, as those meters reportedly recorded 15–20 per cent higher consumption. “If a consumer earlier received a bill of ₹2,000, after the smart meter it increased to ₹2,400–₹2,500. Public anger on this issue is at its peak,” he said.
Singh further stated that in 2018, an eight-year contract was signed for installing 2G smart meters, under which around 12 lakh households were covered, with a target of 40 lakh homes. “Now suddenly, the electricity department has issued a Tughlaqi order to remove 2G meters and replace them with 4G meters. If 4G meters were to be installed, why were 2G meters installed in 2018 in the first place?” he asked, demanding accountability for an alleged ₹959 crore scam.
Accusing the government of financial irregularities, Singh claimed that tenders were floated at ₹8,415 per meter, while the meters were installed at ₹6,016 per unit. “The scam is evident. Who will account for the ₹959 crore taken from the hard-earned money of the public?” he questioned.
Raising concerns over the prepaid smart meter system, Singh said it would create serious hardship for common consumers. “The moment the recharge balance is exhausted, electricity will be cut off immediately. In peak summer, even if children are crying and the elderly are suffering, power supply will be snapped because of this prepaid system,” he said.
He also criticised the government’s proposal to introduce time-based electricity tariffs, with higher rates during peak hours and lower rates during non-peak hours. “Earlier, electricity rates were charged per unit. Now the government wants to charge as per the clock. Is this a conspiracy to ruin poor people during the scorching summer months?” he asked.
Alleging that the government’s intent is to extract more money from consumers while benefiting private companies, Singh warned that if electricity rates rise to ₹40 per unit during peak months like June and July, people will keep losing money without even realising it.
Reiterating that the smart meter policy is unconstitutional and against the Electricity Act, 2003, Singh demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged ₹959 crore scam and strict action against those responsible. He warned that if the government fails to act, the Aam Aadmi Party will launch a statewide agitation.
“We will not allow the people of Uttar Pradesh to be looted in the name of electricity,” Sanjay Singh asserted.
