Former Tripura power minister Manik Dey has questioned accountability, billing transparency and private agency involvement in the state’s smart meter rollout, urging the government to protect consumers, clarify replacement responsibilities, strengthen the power utility, address electricity dues and losses, and ensure affordable, reliable and accountable power supply.
Former Tripura power minister and senior opposition leader Manik Dey has raised serious questions over the ongoing smart meter rollout in the state, demanding greater transparency in electricity billing, clearer accountability for private agencies and stronger safeguards for consumers.
Speaking at a press conference in Agartala on Wednesday, Dey criticised what he described as the government’s approach to the restructuring of Tripura’s electricity distribution system. He alleged that increasing involvement of private agencies in smart meter installation, maintenance and related activities could gradually reduce the role of the state power utility and create additional concerns for consumers.
Dey maintained that his criticism should not be interpreted as opposition to technological modernization in the electricity sector. According to him, modern metering technology can contribute to better management of electricity consumption and distribution, but its implementation must remain transparent, accountable and focused on public interest.
Questions Over Smart Meter Accountability
One of the principal concerns raised by Dey was accountability in cases where smart meters malfunction, produce allegedly excessive bills or require replacement.
He questioned whether responsibility in such situations would lie with the state power utility, the government or the private agency responsible for supplying, installing or maintaining the meter.
The former minister alleged that a number of consumers had complained about substantial increases in electricity bills following the installation of smart meters, even when there had reportedly been no corresponding change in their consumption patterns.
Dey argued that the government should explain clearly how smart meter readings are converted into bills and provide consumers with an effective mechanism for challenging inaccurate or disputed charges.
He called for complete transparency in meter installation, reading, billing and complaint resolution. He also urged the government to establish clearly defined responsibilities so consumers are not left uncertain about whom to approach when a smart meter develops a fault.
Smart Meters Were Earlier Introduced on a Limited Scale
Dey said smart meters were not entirely new to Tripura and recalled that initiatives to modernise the electricity system had been undertaken during the previous Left Front government.
According to him, projects supported through assistance from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and various Central government schemes had focused on reducing transmission and distribution losses, controlling technical losses and improving the reliability and quality of electricity supply.
As part of those initiatives, he said, smart meters were introduced on a limited experimental basis.
Dey claimed that approximately 40,000 to 50,000 smart meters had been installed through a tender process when Tripura had around 7.5 lakh electricity consumers as of March 2018.
He said those meters were supplied and installed under the supervision of the state power utility and claimed that there were no widespread consumer complaints at that stage.
However, he argued that the situation had changed considerably after 2018, with smart metering being expanded across the country and private agencies playing a greater role in the process.
Concerns Over Private Sector Involvement
Dey questioned whether greater dependence on private agencies could eventually lead to increased private-sector control over sections of the electricity distribution system.
He also raised concerns about consumer data and alleged that smart metering could facilitate the centralised collection and management of electricity-related information, including Aadhaar-linked data.
According to Dey, the government must ensure that consumer information remains adequately protected and that the role and responsibilities of private agencies are clearly regulated.
He argued that electricity is an essential public service and that the introduction of new technology should not result in consumers carrying additional financial or administrative burdens.
Dey also questioned what would happen if a private company responsible for installing or maintaining smart meters withdrew from the market, lost its contract or ceased operations.
He asked whether the government had issued any written notification specifying who would replace and maintain smart meters under such circumstances.
Meter Replacement Costs Under Scrutiny
Another issue highlighted by Dey was the cost difference between conventional and smart electricity meters.
He claimed that conventional meters previously cost approximately Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,600, whereas smart meters could cost around Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, and in some cases more.
He questioned whether ordinary and economically weaker consumers would be able to bear the replacement cost if expensive smart meters malfunctioned after installation.
Dey stressed that consumers should not automatically become financially responsible for equipment that forms part of the electricity distribution infrastructure.
He called for the government to establish a transparent policy covering installation, malfunction, replacement, maintenance and ownership of smart meters.
Opposition to Additional Consumer Burden
Dey said the opposition was not against the use of technology to improve electricity services. Instead, he argued that modernization should result in better services and greater efficiency rather than higher financial pressure on consumers.
He demanded accurate meter readings, transparent billing procedures and an accessible grievance-redressal mechanism.
He also alleged that attempts had previously been made through proposed changes in electricity-related legislation to make smart meters mandatory. According to Dey, farmers, workers, engineers, consumers and political groups had opposed such measures, preventing them from being implemented in their proposed form.
He alleged that similar measures were now being pursued through administrative directions.
Time-of-Day Tariff Also Raises Concern
The proposed Time-of-Day, or ToD, tariff system was another issue raised during the press conference.
Under such a system, electricity prices can vary depending on the timing of consumption, with different tariff rates potentially applying during peak and non-peak periods.
Dey warned that higher charges during peak-demand periods could create an additional financial burden for ordinary consumers if adequate safeguards were not introduced.
He urged the government to ensure that any tariff restructuring takes into account the financial capacity and consumption patterns of households, particularly those that have limited flexibility in determining when electricity is used.
Questions Over Delayed Power Generation Project
Dey also criticised the alleged delay in a combined-cycle power generation project intended to increase electricity production in Tripura.
He said the project was conceived to utilise waste heat generated during gas-based power generation to produce an additional 80 MW of electricity.
According to Dey, the project had been discussed around eight years ago, but its progress had not matched expectations.
He claimed that an investment of approximately Rs 1,400 crore had been envisaged and questioned the current status of the company associated with the project, as well as earlier promises concerning employment generation.
Dey argued that increasing generation capacity and strengthening the electricity infrastructure should remain important priorities for the state.
Distribution Infrastructure Needs Attention
Beyond smart meters, Dey pointed to several issues within the electricity distribution network that he said require urgent attention.
He cited ageing distribution transformers, deteriorating power lines, outdated feeders, obsolete equipment and the need to modernise substations.
He also alleged that faulty meters often remain unreplaced for extended periods and claimed that power theft had not been adequately addressed.
According to him, improving the physical infrastructure of the distribution network should receive as much attention as introducing new metering technology.
Dey further claimed that substantial electricity dues remain outstanding from government and semi-government institutions, banks and other public-sector bodies.
He argued that recovering such outstanding amounts could improve the financial position of the state power utility and reduce pressure for higher charges on ordinary consumers.
“If technical and commercial losses are reduced, power theft is controlled and outstanding dues are recovered, there would be less justification for repeatedly increasing the financial burden on consumers,” he said.
Recalling the Earlier Power Sector
Dey recalled the expansion of the state power utility during the previous administration, claiming that generation capacity had reached around 850 MW at one stage.
He said surplus electricity had also been supplied to Bangladesh and other markets, while efforts were made to reduce load-shedding caused by inadequate generation.
He distinguished between temporary disruptions caused by natural disasters or technical faults and regular load-shedding resulting from insufficient generation capacity.
According to Dey, the earlier objective was to strengthen generation and distribution infrastructure so that consumers could receive reliable electricity without recurring shortages.
Strengthening the Public Power Utility
Dey stressed the role historically played by engineers and employees of the state power utility in managing electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
He argued that strengthening existing public institutions and their workforce should be prioritised instead of increasing dependence on private agencies.
He also criticised what he described as excessive dependence on Central government policies. Dey argued that even when the Centre and state governments are led by the same political party, the state government has a responsibility to protect the interests of its own people.
He maintained that government decisions should ultimately be guided by public interest rather than commercial considerations.
According to Dey, the state should assess whether policies relating to essential public services primarily protect consumers or create greater opportunities for private and corporate entities to generate profits.
Call for Review and Consumer Protection
Dey called for an impartial review of complaints related to smart meters and electricity billing in Tripura.
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He demanded that the government make the responsibilities of private agencies and the state power utility transparent, establish timely grievance redressal and ensure that consumers are not unfairly burdened by meter-related costs.
He also urged the government to strengthen public-sector institutions involved in electricity generation and distribution.
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Dey referred to organisations such as NTPC and other government-owned power utilities as examples of public institutions that have historically played an important role in the electricity sector.
He concluded by stressing that electricity should be treated as an essential public service rather than simply a commercial commodity.
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“Electricity is not a luxury but an essential requirement of life,” he said, arguing that the priority should be affordable, reliable and accountable power supply rather than shifting additional financial responsibility onto consumers.
The concerns raised by Dey place smart meter accountability, electricity billing transparency, private agency involvement, tariff structures and the financial health of Tripura’s power utility at the centre of the ongoing debate over the state’s electricity sector.
