📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / UnpetitproleX
Technology
Power Cut to Himachal Village Pradhan Sparks Smart‑Meter Dispute
✍️ India Today
🗓 18 Oct 2026, 03:01 PM
👁 23
A power supply cut to a village pradhan in Himachal Pradesh has intensified a local controversy over the rollout of smart electricity meters.
Himachal Pradesh authorities faced a sharp escalation in a long‑standing dispute over the installation of smart electricity meters after the power supply to a village pradhan was disconnected. The pradhan, who heads the local panchayat, reported that his household electricity was cut off following objections to the smart‑meter rollout in his area.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the new meters, citing issues such as billing transparency and potential health effects, while the state electricity board maintains that the devices are part of a broader effort to modernise the grid and reduce losses. The recent power cut, viewed by many as a punitive measure, has prompted protests and heightened calls for dialogue between the community and officials.
State officials have said they are reviewing the incident and will engage with the panchayat to address grievances, emphasizing that any service interruption was not intended as a sanction. The episode underscores the challenges of implementing advanced metering infrastructure in rural regions where public awareness and acceptance remain limited.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the new meters, citing issues such as billing transparency and potential health effects, while the state electricity board maintains that the devices are part of a broader effort to modernise the grid and reduce losses. The recent power cut, viewed by many as a punitive measure, has prompted protests and heightened calls for dialogue between the community and officials.
State officials have said they are reviewing the incident and will engage with the panchayat to address grievances, emphasizing that any service interruption was not intended as a sanction. The episode underscores the challenges of implementing advanced metering infrastructure in rural regions where public awareness and acceptance remain limited.