The Business Bytes
The growing resistance to smart meters in Odisha, fuelled by protests over billing concerns, privacy issues, and infrastructural challenges, highlights widespread distrust in the initiative.
Bhubaneswar, December 4, 2024 (TBB Bureau): In Odisha, the rollout of smart meters, intended to modernize electricity usage and billing, has ignited widespread opposition among consumers. Villages have turned into battlegrounds for this conflict, with residents at Mantapoda in Ganjam district blocking Tata Power employees from entering their village to install smart meters. In another dramatic protest, residents of Barapali in Baragarh district dumped their newly installed smart meters in front of the local tehsil office. These incidents, occurring as recently as September and November 2024, illustrate the simmering tensions surrounding this new technology. The core question remains: why is there so much resistance to smart meters in Odisha?
Efforts to seek answers from Tata Power , the state’s sole distribution company, and its public relations agency, have been futile. Despite sending emails to siddharth.gaur @tatapower.com and siddharth.kumar @adfactorspr.com on October 7 and October 22, 2024, seeking clarifications on the matter, no responses were received, leaving key questions unanswered. Why are consumers reluctant to adopt smart meters? Are their fears of inflated electricity bills valid? What about concerns over health risks and the challenges posed by low internet penetration in rural areas? The discom’s silence has only deepened the distrust among the public.
The Odisha discom’s website highlights the advantages of smart meters, promoting them as a convenient and consumer-friendly upgrade. These meters eliminate the need for monthly visits by meter readers and enable consumers to monitor their daily electricity usage, potentially reducing bills. Users can also track their balance and consumption online, receive automated outage notifications, and avail of a 2% rebate on timely payments. Despite these touted benefits, many consumers remain unconvinced.
One of the primary reasons for the skepticism is that the supposed benefits of smart meters do not address the real issues faced by consumers. Many rural households, for instance, do not find the monthly visits by meter readers or bill collectors disruptive. “We’ve been used to this system for decades, and it works just fine,” says Rabindra Swain (name changed on request), a resident of Barapali. He also questions the utility of daily consumption monitoring, arguing that most households already have a fair idea of their energy use because they are the ones paying for it.
Another issue raised by consumers is the unreliability of the discom’s maintenance services. While the smart meter system promises automated outage notifications, Bhagaban Mohanty (name changed), a consumer from Ganjam, remains skeptical. “Even today, when there’s a fault, we make numerous calls and even visit the electricity office in person, but no one comes to fix it. How can we trust that an automated alert will make them respond faster?” he asks.
Concerns over inaccurate readings and inflated electricity bills have also fuelled the opposition. Many consumers claim that after switching to smart meters, their bills increased drastically. Reports of bills jumping from ₹500 to ₹2,000-₹3,000 per month are common, leading to allegations that the meters are faulty or deliberately calibrated to overcharge users. Privacy concerns further compound the issue, with some worried about the collection and potential misuse of their energy consumption data.
The prepaid nature of smart meters has added another layer of unease, especially in rural areas with low internet penetration and limited tech literacy. Under this system, electricity supply is automatically disconnected when the balance runs out, even if it happens due to a technical glitch. Reconnecting the power often involves fines or additional charges, which many find unjust. Manoranjan Mohapatra, a resident of Ganjam, voices his frustration: “If the system makes a mistake and my balance shows zero, I lose power. Then I have to pay to fix an error that wasn’t mine. How is this fair?”
The backlash against smart meters points to deeper systemic issues. Experts believe the discoms have failed to communicate effectively with consumers and address their concerns transparently. Ashutosh Mallick, a retired electrical engineer, suggests that the best way to build trust is through pilot programs. “The discoms could install both normal and smart meters on select premises for a few months and compare the readings. If they match, it will prove that smart meters are accurate,” he explains.
Social activist Laxmidhar Biswal argues that the focus should first be on improving the state’s existing power infrastructure. Frequent outages and delays in maintenance plague rural areas, eroding public confidence in the discom’s ability to manage new technologies like smart meters. “You cannot convince people to embrace change when the basics are still broken,” he says.
Massive awareness campaigns are also essential, according to experts. Introducing any new technology, especially one as integral as electricity metering, requires a well-planned strategy to educate consumers about its benefits and dispel misinformation. Biswal emphasizes the importance of reaching rural audiences with simple, relatable messaging that addresses their specific concerns.
The resistance to smart meters in Odisha is not just about the technology itself but about the broader context in which it is being introduced. Consumers’ distrust stems from their experiences with unreliable services, a lack of transparency, and fears of exploitation. Tata Power and other stakeholders must acknowledge these concerns and work proactively to address them. Building trust through pilot programs, improving infrastructure, and launching effective awareness campaigns could help turn the tide of public opinion.
The smart meter controversy in Odisha is emblematic of the challenges inherent in implementing new technology. While the potential benefits of smart meters are undeniable, their adoption hinges on effective communication, infrastructure readiness, and consumer trust. Unless the discoms address these issues head-on, the resistance to smart meters is unlikely to abate. For now, the ball remains in the discoms’ court to win over the trust of Odisha’s electricity consumers.
