Guwahati/ Dibrugarh: The protests over “forcible” installation of prepaid smart electricity meters remained unfazed in the state as Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), a students’ body, staged a state-wide protest on Thursday.
Protesters urged govt to stop installation of smart meters and demanded roll back of the analogue meters to provide respite to the users.
Members of the students’ body protested in front of the district commissioner’s office in every district, chanting slogans and holding placards, which displayed their demands.
The protestors in Guwahati demanded immediate intervention from the state govt and the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to address their concerns. The protesters said the prepaid smart electricity meters have led to electricity bills surging three to four times, burdening consumers financially.
One of the protesters in Guwahati told the media that the common people of the state have been facing the brunt of the prepaid smart meters. It compounds the challenges they face due to the hike in prices of essential commodities, medicine, cooking gas and fuel.
Meanwhile, an AJYCP leader in Dibrugarh said, “We are protesting for the rights of the common man. The smart meters have caused bills to skyrocket, with some consumers reporting increases of up to four times their previous charges. Consumers who previously paid an average of Rs 500 to Rs 700 now find themselves burdened with bills ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.”
The AJYCP has called for the reinstatement of the old analog meters, arguing that the new digital meters are not only inaccurate but also pose a significant financial challenge for low and middle-income families.
“People have not changed their consumption habits, yet their electricity bills have multiplied several times. We are not against technology, but consumers cannot pay four times more for the same service. This is simply unacceptable. We demand that the old meters be reinstalled,” a protester said.
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