Mass Electricity Disconnections Hit Dhanbad Over Smart Meter Dues
In a significant development impacting daily life, electricity connections of nearly 20,000 consumers in Dhanbad have been allegedly cut off due to pending dues and issues related to the newly installed smart meters. Residents have raised serious concerns, alleging that despite clearing their bills, they were asked to make payments again, highlighting discrepancies in billing and a lack of transparency in the smart meter system.
Political Leaders Intervene and Criticize Utility Actions
Taking cognisance of the escalating issue, Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha met with Ashok Kumar Sinha, the general manager of JBVNL (Dhanbad circle), on Thursday. During the meeting, Sinha strongly objected to the abrupt disconnections, terming them as unjustified, especially since they were carried out without prior intimation to consumers. He demanded that consumers be clearly informed about smart meter operations and billing mechanisms to prevent such confusion in the future.
Jharia MLA Ragini Singh also criticized the JBVNL, stating that irregular billing practices and lump-sum charges followed by disconnections were unacceptable. She urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the numerous complaints that have arisen after the installation of smart meters and to provide immediate relief to the affected consumers.
Mayor Highlights Festival Season Concerns
Dhanbad mayor Sanjeev Singh weighed in on the matter, terming the mass disconnection of a basic service like electricity as a serious issue, particularly during the ongoing festival season. He emphasised the urgent need for a prompt resolution of all grievances related to smart meters to restore normalcy and ensure public convenience.
JBVNL Clarifies Smart Meter Functionality
Responding to the widespread concerns, Ashok Kumar Sinha clarified the technical aspects behind the disconnections. He explained that under the prepaid smart meter system, connections are automatically cut when the balance turns negative, which is an in-built feature designed to manage payments efficiently. He added, "Disconnections were executed from Ranchi and affected only those consumers whose balance had been exhausted."
Assurances of Relief and Restoration Efforts
In a move to alleviate the crisis, Sinha assured that consumers would be given a one-month window to clear their dues, with an option to pay in instalments to ease the financial burden. He stated, "Efforts are underway to restore most connections by evening," indicating a commitment to resolving the issue swiftly. This assurance aims to provide temporary relief while a more permanent solution to the smart meter billing discrepancies is sought.
