Overview

• The state government has indefinitely halted new prepaid smart meter installations in private residences while continuing deployment in government and commercial buildings.
• Power minister Arup Biswas announced that about 60,000 installed smart meters will now be billed every three months like conventional units.
• Residents lodged roughly 5,000 formal complaints alleging electricity bills doubled or tripled after smart meter activation.
• Consumers reported difficulty reconnecting supply after prepayments ran out, triggering mass protests in districts such as Howrah, North 24 Parganas and Bardhaman.
• The project was part of a central government–driven scheme to secure restructuring funds and help the debt-ridden West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company recover dues.