Mumbai, India – June 14, 2025 – A group of concerned Mumbai citizens gathered outside the BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) office to protest the alleged forced installation of smart meters and demand transparency from electricity providers. The protestors claim that some consumers have received notices threatening disconnection of their electricity supply if they refuse smart meter installation.
According to the protesting citizens, the disconnection notices were issued on Friday, June 14th, violating the mandatory 15-day notice period required by law for electricity disconnections, an essential service. They argue this constitutes a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
“We have repeatedly requested meetings with key stakeholders, including representatives from BEST, Adani, Tata Power, Torrent, MSEDCL, and the Additional Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai City,” stated Kamlakar Shenoy, a leading voice of the protest. “However, our requests have been ignored, and we have received no written responses to our objections and suggestions.”
The core of the protestors’ argument lies in the assertion that smart meter installation is not mandatory for residential consumers. They point to BEST’s own statements indicating that consumers have the right to choose whether or not they want a smart meter, particularly if their existing meter is functioning correctly.
“BEST has stated that smart meters are not compulsory, yet consumers are being threatened with disconnection,” Shenoy emphasized. “We suspect that these companies, including those which may not be covered by the RDSS scheme, are engaging in fraudulent practices by not responding to objections and issuing wrongful disconnection threats.”
The protesters further allege a lack of accountability from elected officials. They say “No political parties and MP, MLA, COUNCILLORS have daring to support citizens. The elected representatives do not dare even to meet citizens under video recording and do not respond to communication. Think twice before you vote next time.”
The group encourages concerned citizens to take action by lodging complaints with their local police station and Deputy Commissioner of Police. They also advise residents to secure their meter boxes.
As a means of educating themselves and further voicing their concerns, the citizens organized a meeting at BEST Bhavan in Colaba on Tuesday, June 17th, at 4:30 PM. They have notified the local Colaba police station, ACP Colaba, DCP Zone 1, and Additional CP South Region of their intention to gather peacefully and seek information.
Citizens are invited to visit www.kamlakarshenoy.com for more information, including a complaint template with emails of BEST, TATA, ADANI, TORRENT, and MERC.
Contact:
Kamlakar Shenoy, www.kamlakarshenoy.com
May 23, 2025 – Matunga Residents Demand FIR Against BEST, AMC, and MERC Officials Over Smart Meter Installation
A group of activists from Matunga, led by Kamalakar Shanaya, visited the Matunga Police Station demanding the registration of an FIR against the General Manager of BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport), the Additional Municipal Commissioner of the city, and members of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).
According to Shanaya, the activists, including Gaurang ji, Chetan bhai, Prashant ji, and Ramesh bhai, are protesting the allegedly illegal installation of smart meters in the area. They claim that BEST has no authority to install these meters and that the right solely belongs to government DISCOMs (Distribution Companies).
“BEST does not install smart meters. Yet, despite this, our MERC, BEST, and the Additional Municipal Commissioner of the city have forcibly installed these meters through wrongful means and threats,” Shanaya stated. “Even the notices they issued are illegal because they did not notify the consumers.”
The activists allege that the smart meter installation is an act of exploitation and is being carried out without proper notification and consent from residents. They argue that the current process is illegal and will cause significant hardship if left unchallenged.
After lodging their complaint, the group met with Senior Police Inspector (PIA) Mr. Pawar, who, according to Shanaya, assured them that action would be taken. Investigating Officer (IO) Vinod Patil is currently out of station for detection work but is expected to record their statements upon his return and begin the process of registering the FIR.
“We are very grateful for the assurance we received from Mr. Pawar and Mr. Patil,” said Shanaya. “We also thank the activists from Matunga for their support.”
Shanaya urged all citizens to resist the installation of smart meters, calling it an act of exploitation and illegal. “If we do not raise our voices against it, it will cause great hardship,” he concluded.
The Matunga Police Station has yet to release an official statement regarding the complaint and the ongoing investigation. The controversy surrounding smart meter installation continues to grow, with residents echoing concerns about transparency and the potential for increased costs.
PIL challenging compulsory use of smart prepaid electricity meters remains pending in HC as Maha govt temporarily puts off decision to mandate pre-paid meters
A public interest litigation was filed in the Bombay high court challenging the compulsory use of smart prepaid electricity meters, claiming it takes away the right of consumers to choose, and highlighting the hardships people will face.
the implementation of smart prepayment meters will cause extreme hardships, take away the right of consumers to choose, and lead to automatic disconnection of electricity supply if not recharged in time.
Even the serious doubts being expressed by consumer bodies, which ranged from the actual cost of the meter to the accuracy and reliability of such meters, were not given any importance
The petitioner states that “In such a scenario, the supply to the consumer will get automatically disconnected and the consumer will be at the mercy of recharge to restore his supply and has limited recourse to agitate for recovery of excess deduction or exorbitant debit in his account.’’
The petitioners cited a report of the Hindustan Times, which provided that MSEDCL declared payment default by 87511 consumers which is 0.32% of its 2.7 crore connections
They have alleged that the whole exercise is “being solely done to protect the revenue of private players taking over the role of distribution of energy…”
The objectives of the petition are to highlight the hardships that people will face due to the implementation of smart prepayment meters, and to seek the option of choice for consumers between prepaid and postpaid meters.
Ref: https://sabrangindia.in/pil-challenging-compulsory-use-of-smart-prepaid-electricity-meters-remains-pending-in-hc-as-maha-govt-temporarily-puts-off-decision-to-mandate-pre-paid-meters/#:~:text=The%20Electricity%20(Rights%20of%20Consumers,payment%20meter%20or%20prepayment%20meter%E2%80%9D.
Nigel Farage: ‘DON’T get a Smart Meters!’
I’ve warned you again and again on this show don’t allow them to fit a smart meter. It is their way of managing demand. It’s their way of cutting you off if they want to well now we learn that three million of the smart meters have faults yes and that in over 150000 cases through Smart Meters where people have been slightly late paying their bills, people are then automatically without debate without comment put on pre-payment tariffs don’t get a smart meter ignore .the electricity company ignore. The government ignore it.
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