Maharashtra's 2.4Cr smart meter rollout criticized for short notice
Maharashtra's big push to install about 2.4 crore (24 million) smart meters is getting a lot of heat from residents.
People in cities like Mumbai and Pune say they barely got any notice, sometimes just 48 hours, before installation teams showed up, raising questions about consent and privacy.
Activists cite Electricity Act violation
Activists argue that installing meters without proper consent breaks the Electricity Act and leaves out folks who aren't tech-savvy, especially seniors.
There have also been reports of shockingly high bills, like ₹1.7 lakh in a single day, which sparked more than 100 complaints asking for investigations or a switch back to old meters.
The government says smart meters are mandatory (but prepaid isn't), promising perks like remote readings and solar discounts, while insisting most billing issues are just old meter errors.
Still, worries about privacy and digital access remain strong.