The All Manipur Power Consumers’ Association (AMPCA) has accused the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) of subjecting consumers to prolonged, unannounced power cuts despite collecting electricity charges in advance through prepaid meters.
In a statement, AMPCA said consumers had complied with the prepaid metering system for more than a decade, while many are now being compelled to migrate to prepaid smart meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). It questioned the rationale of collecting advance payments while failing to ensure regular power supply.
Citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, the association claimed that MSPDCL had accumulated outstanding dues of Rs. 691.69 crore. It alleged that the utility’s failure to recover dues from postpaid consumers, commercial establishments and government departments had contributed to the financial crisis, while prepaid consumers face immediate disconnection when their balances are exhausted.
AMPCA also accused MSPDCL of withholding monthly, district-wise power supply schedules and revenue collection data, leaving consumers without information on the basis for daily load-shedding. It alleged that compliant consumers were being made to bear the consequences of poor collection and internal management.
Questioning the aggressive implementation of RDSS, the association said functional prepaid meters in Imphal were being replaced despite consumers already complying with the payment system. It argued that smart meters with remote-control facilities should instead be prioritised in areas affected by power theft, irregular bill collection and inadequate metering infrastructure.
AMPCA further claimed that Manipur’s Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) loss stood at 12.9 per cent in 2025, below the RDSS target of 15 per cent. It questioned the expenditure involved in replacing functioning infrastructure when the state had already achieved the stated loss-reduction benchmark.
The association demanded immediate publication of monthly district-wise power supply and revenue data, along with an automated rebate mechanism for unscheduled power cuts.
Invoking the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, AMPCA said MSPDCL must fulfil its obligations relating to reliable electricity supply and compensation for failure to meet prescribed standards of performance. It also raised concerns under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, over collecting advance payments without delivering regular service.
AMPCA warned that failure to address the issues could compel the association and affected consumers to pursue collective legal action under the Electricity Act, 2003, including provisions relating to non-compliance and penalties. It said advance-paying consumers would no longer remain silent over what it described as institutional failures in the power distribution system.
