Ranchi: In a push towards modernising power infrastructure, the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) has announced that all electricity meters in the city will be transitioned to a prepaid system within a month.The move aims to streamline billing and curb revenue leakage. However, failure to maintain the minimum balance will result in immediate disconnection.While JBVNL has already installed 3,35,000 smart meters across the city, officials said a final stretch is remaining. Around 12,000 smart meters are functioning on a postpaid basis, while another 13,000 connections are yet to be upgraded to smart meters.Manmohan Kumar, general manager of JBVNL’s Ranchi Supply Area Board, emphasised the efficiency of the new system. “This month, our target is to convert every single meter in the city into a prepaid smart meter. This transition is free of cost for citizens and offers far greater benefits in the long run,” he said.Kumar added, “Once a smart meter is installed, the security deposit submitted by the consumer while getting a connection will be immediately refunded to the prepaid meter as balance amount.”The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) recently announced that consumers who switch to prepaid smart meters will get a 3% rebate on energy charges.The shift brings a significant change to how residents manage their utilities. Under the prepaid system, power supply will be automatically disconnected if a consumer’s balance dips to -Rs 1,500.However, Kumar assured that once a meter is recharged, power is typically restored within 30 minutes.Those consuming fewer than 200 units per month are advised to maintain a balance of Rs 1,500. For households consuming between 200 and 500 units, the recommended buffer is Rs 3,000. “The advantage of smart meters is that consumers can track their hourly, daily and monthly consumption. This allows them to be more mindful of their usage and effectively lower their bills,” Kumar added.The discom also issued a warning regarding a recent rise in fraudulent activities. Reports have emerged of scammers posing as JBVNL staff and demanding payment for meter installations.“Smart meter installation is absolutely free. If anyone asks for money, they are fraudsters,” Kumar warned. He urged residents to take photos or note the details of such individuals and report them to the area engineer or his office directly. “If possible, keep them occupied and call us immediately, we will ensure these scamsters end up behind bars,” he said.Beyond preventing theft, JBVNL said that the smart meter rollout will eliminate human intervention in billing, ensuring real-time accuracy and greater transparency.
