Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Srikant Sharma on Monday directed the officials of UP Power Corporation Ltd to personally contact every electricity consumer using smart meters for the disposal of their grievances and to take their feedback. 

The minister also said that apart from the UPPCL, all the managing directors of the five distribution companies (discoms) should also regularly review the same at their level.  

The five discoms are the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the UPPCL.

The minister gave these directions after receiving complaints regarding difficulties in recharge/depositing bills by the smart meter consumers, inflated bills and not getting the bills. 

Expressing displeasure over the indifferent attitude of the engineers of the UPPCL on the billing complaints, Sharma directed the UPPCL to take immediate action on all such complaints. He also directed the officials to ensure that the consumers received the right bill on time. “Incorrect billing is not acceptable. Strict legal action should be ensured against the billing agency concerned in case of faulty bills,” he added. 

 The energy minister directed that the discoms’ managing directors, directors and engineers should also patrol the feeders along with the staff of the 33 x 11 power distribution sub-stations. 

The minister said during the patrolling, the UPPCL officials should also communicate with the consumers at the local level. 

“They should hear the problems of the consumers and ensure their disposal. The UPPCL officials should also motivate the power consumers to pay bills regularly for cheap and uninterrupted electricity,” he said.