Smart meter row sparks legal threat against MSPDCL

All Manipur Power Consumer Association has threatened legal action against Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL), alleging that the ongoing installation of smart prepaid meters in Manipur is being carried out without legal clarity, public consent and consumer protection safeguards.
Addressing reporters at Lizard Library Community Hall in Wangkhei Meihoupam Lampak, the association’s General Secretary Konthoujam Sanatomba questioned the need to replace existing secure prepaid meters despite there being no widespread complaints from consumers.
He warned that if MSPDCL continues the installation drive forcefully, the association would challenge the move legally and may even file damage suits against the power utility.
Sanatomba alleged that MSPDCL, under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), has begun replacing existing prepaid meters with smart prepaid meters without properly informing consumers about the legal framework or implications of the transition.
He further claimed that while the Ministry of Power had issued notifications regarding smart meter implementation, the policy was not being enforced uniformly across the country. Citing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram and Nagaland, he questioned why Manipur was being aggressively pushed towards compulsory installation.
Referring to statements reportedly made in Parliament by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Sanatomba asserted that smart prepaid meters are not mandatory for all consumers.
He also cited provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, claiming consumers have the legal right to protection and choice, and maintained that installation of smart prepaid meters should remain voluntary rather than coercive.
The association accused MSPDCL of intimidating consumers who refuse to install the new meters, including alleged threats of electricity disconnection.
Demanding an immediate halt to the installation drive, the association warned that any attempt to impose smart prepaid meters without public consent could trigger wider public opposition and legal confrontation in the state.