The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) Electricity Ombudsman has ruled that power distribution companies (Discoms) can replace conventional electricity meters with smart meters without obtaining prior consent from consumers, as the move is permitted under existing laws.The ruling came while deciding the case of Mahendra Kumar D. Patel vs MGVCL, Lalbagh Division, Vadodara.
The consumer had alleged that Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd. (MGVCL) installed a smart meter without his approval, disrupting his bank’s auto-debit payment facility and eventually leading to the disconnection of his electricity supply. MGVCL, however, maintained that the installation was carried out in accordance with the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Metering Regulations, the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, and the GERC Supply Code.
The utility also clarified that the auto-debit facility was unrelated to the type of electricity meter installed.After reviewing the case, the Ombudsman held that the replacement of conventional meters with smart meters is fully supported by the applicable legal framework and does not require prior approval from consumers.
The order further observed that the consumer failed to provide any evidence of a technical defect in the smart meter or any discrepancy in the electricity bills generated after its installation.The Ombudsman dismissed the appeal and upheld the earlier decision of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).
The order also stated that consumers who question the accuracy of a smart meter can seek third-party testing under the provisions of the GERC Supply Code. However, merely objecting to the installation of a smart meter is not a valid legal ground for demanding the reinstallation of an old conventional meter.
The decision, issued by the GERC Electricity Ombudsman, is a statutory quasi-judicial order that clarifies the legal position on smart meter installations across Gujarat.