Sonamura, June 26 — Residents of Khedabari area in Sonamura have raised serious concerns over exorbitant electricity bills following the recent installation of smart meters in their locality. Locals have alleged that the new system has led to billing errors that are beyond their financial means.
Sahjahan Mia, a local farmer, shared his ordeal, claiming he received a bill of ₹99,697 for just two months, while his usual monthly bill had never exceeded ₹280. “My family is in shock. We don’t know how to deal with this,” he said.
Several other residents echoed similar grievances, describing their bills as “irrational and unaffordable.” Many households in the area reported bills running into several thousand rupees, despite their regular electricity usage remaining unchanged.
“I earn less than ₹6,000 a month. How can I possibly pay an electricity bill of ₹3,000?” asked another consumer, blaming the newly installed smart meters for what he termed as a billing disaster.
In response to the issue, a group of affected residents visited the Sonamura Electrical Subdivision office on Thursday and met with the Manager of the local electricity corporation. The official reportedly assured them that the bills would be re-verified and necessary corrections would be made, if discrepancies are found.
The villagers, however, remain skeptical and have demanded immediate resolution. They warned that if corrective action is not taken swiftly, they may be forced to launch a protest or boycott the use of smart meters altogether.
This incident has sparked widespread concern among consumers in neighboring areas as well, highlighting the need for a thorough review of the smart meter implementation and billing mechanisms by the concerned authorities.
