Installation Of Smart Electricity Meters Only For New Houses, Not Existing Consumers: BESCOM Tells Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), the State Government and others on a batch of petitions questioning the tender and decision of the state government making it mandatory for electricity consumers to install smart pre-paid meters.

Acting Chief Justice V M Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi issued notice on the respondents and directed them to file their reply within four weeks time. The court issued the direction while hearing petitions filed by Karnataka Vidhuth Sene and others.

Senior Advocate Uday Holla, appearing for BESCOM, informed the court that the installation of smart meters was only for new houses and not for the existing consumers.

Senior Advocate Lakshmy Iyengar, appearing for one of the petitioners, argued that all the consumers would have to shift to smart meters. The petitioners questioned the tender process and how the consumers are put to extreme hardships by way of the cost of the meters, since other states charge around Rs 900 for the smart meters.

Further, it was said that the RDSS scheme of the Central government was not implemented by the state government and they went ahead with the tender.

Moreover, it was stated that the KERC regulations state the installation of smart meters is optional, but the guidelines issued by the respondents were drafted in such a manner that every consumer was forced to take the meter. There is also a recurring cost for the maintenance of the meter, it was argued.

The court also queried whether the smart meters were technically superior. To this, Iyengar said, “The advantages are that where electricity supply offices have direct access to what each meter has been installed and what amount is being utilised, even the consumer would know about where he stands in respect of utility. They are also able to plug the power thefts etc. Therefore the central government had three years ago brought in the regulations for each state to adopt it and they would assist monetarily also, but just before the state government could adopt it, they hurriedly went on to go ahead with this tender, where only one person is a beneficiary."

Counsel for respondents informed that the tender was awarded in December 2024 and is in operation. Senior Advocate K N Phanindra, for a respondent, submitted that similar petitions are filed before the single judge and the pleadings were similar to the petitions before this court.

Following this, the court directed the respondents to file their objections.

Background

The plea prays for a direction directing the respondent no.4 (BESCOM) to adhere to the KERC regulations dated 06/03/2024, availing power supply through a smart pre-paid meter shall be at the option of the consumer except temporary installations.

Further, it seeks a transparent tender procedure for the procurement of smart meters in accordance with the Karnataka Transparency In Public Procurements Act. 

By way of interim prayer it is sought to stay the operation, implementation and effect of the impugned circular issued by the respondent no.4 dated 13/02/2025 and dated 15/02/2025 for the installation of smart meters.

Appearance: Advocate Lakshmy Iyengar for Petitioners.

Senior Advocate Uday Holla for R4.

Senior Advocate K N Phanindra for R3.

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty for R1, 2

Case Title: Karnataka Vidhyuth Sene & Others AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 8654/2025 c/w WP 9437/2025, WP 12211/2025