Raipur | Correspondent: The rollout of smart electricity meters in Chhattisgarh has triggered mounting controversy, with consumers across Raipur, Kabirdham, Durg, Bilaspur and several other districts alleging inflated electricity bills, unusually high meter readings and a lack of transparency in the functioning of the new system.

Many consumers claim their monthly electricity bills, which earlier ranged between Rs1,800 and Rs 2,000, have doubled or even tripled after smart meters were installed. They say the sudden increase has put considerable financial pressure on middle-class and salaried families, disrupting their household budgets. In several cases, the electricity department has billed and collected charges ranging from ₹12 to ₹20 per unit of electricity from consumers.

The controversy intensified after reports emerged from Raipur that electricity bills worth tens of thousands of rupees had been issued for locked and unoccupied houses. Although the power distribution company later corrected some of these bills following complaints, the incidents have raised serious concerns among consumers about the accuracy of the new metering system.

The electricity utility has rejected allegations of faulty billing. Officials maintain that both the smart meters and the billing process are functioning correctly and that consumers are being charged strictly according to their actual electricity consumption.

One widely discussed case involves Raipur resident Manish Sharma, who owns a flat in Bhawana Nagar. Sharma said the apartment has remained vacant since he purchased it, with no bulbs, fans or electrical appliances installed. Despite this, the electricity department issued bills of ₹15,500 for May and ₹32,000 for June. After his complaint reportedly failed to yield a resolution, the matter came to light through media reports, following which the department revised the bill to just ₹26.

Another dispute has reached the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF), where a Rajiv Nagar resident challenged the replacement of a conventional electricity meter with a smart meter. The complainant alleged that the meter was replaced without explicit consent and that electricity bills increased significantly thereafter. The consumer has sought an inspection of the old meter, a technical examination of the new smart meter and an independent inquiry. The case is currently pending before the forum, while the electricity department says it is following the prescribed investigation process.

Public opposition has also intensified in Kabirdham district. In the Pandatarai area, several residents removed smart meters from their homes and deposited them at the local electricity department office in protest. Protesters demanded that authorities clearly explain how smart meters function and address complaints regarding higher electricity bills. The demonstration prompted department officials to visit the area and hold discussions with local residents.

The issue has also assumed political significance, with the Congress launching a statewide campaign against smart meters and rising electricity bills. Party workers have been collecting applications from consumers seeking the removal of smart meters while organising protests on the streets and across social media platforms. Congress leaders allege that the higher electricity bills amount to an indirect recovery of benefits provided under the state government's Mahtari Vandan Yojana.

Former state minister Mohammad Akbar has questioned what he described as the forced implementation of the smart meter scheme in Chhattisgarh. Referring to a statement made by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Parliament in April 2026, Akbar said the Centre had clarified that smart prepaid meters are optional and cannot be imposed on consumers. He argued that replacing conventional electricity meters with smart meters without consumers' consent would be unlawful and urged BJP MPs from Chhattisgarh to take a clear stand on the issue.

The Congress campaign continues to gather momentum. Former MLA Vikas Upadhyay has been conducting door-to-door outreach in Rajiv Nagar under Raipur's Ishwari Charan Shukla Ward, urging residents to oppose smart meters. During the campaign, Congress leaders have labelled the devices "Mahtari Vandan Recovery Meters," alleging that the BJP government is effectively recovering financial assistance provided to women under the welfare scheme through higher electricity bills. The electricity distribution company, however, continues to maintain that the smart metering system is accurate and that consumers are billed solely on the basis of recorded electricity consumption.