The Director of Electrical Safety, the Managing Director of Noida Power Company, and the Chairman of the UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP) will also be in attendance. Once approved, the updated cost data book will replace the long-overdue 2019 version.
The move follows UPPCL’s decision to mandate smart prepaid meters for all new connections starting September 10, 2025, despite the absence of formal approval for the meter costs. Over the 91-day period leading up to December 10, more than 2.48 lakh consumers paid ₹6,016 for single-phase meters and ₹11,341 for three-phase meters, generating an estimated revenue of ₹150 crore. According to the proposed rates, refunds totalling over ₹75 crore are expected to be credited to consumers through their billing cycles.
The issue gained significant attention when the media spotlighted a discrepancy through an investigative series. The report uncovered that UPPCL was billing consumers for IS 16444 standard smart prepaid meters while referencing the outdated Cost Data Book-2019, which had approved rates for IS 15884 standard prepaid meters. Although UPPCL asserted that the actual cost of the smart meters exceeded ₹8,000, it acknowledged that the ₹6,016 being charged was only an interim figure.
Consumer advocacy leader Awadhesh Kumar Verma, who is also a member of the Central Advisory Committee on Energy, acknowledged the crucial role of media reports in shedding light on the issue. Verma remarked, “The report highlighting the distinction between IS 15884 and IS 16444 meters played a key role in building the case against the illegal charges. Additionally, UPRVUP presented compelling evidence to UPERC, revealing that UPPCL’s own discoms were procuring smart prepaid meters at a rate of ₹2,500-2,630 per unit.”
Verma stated that once the revised cost data book is officially adopted, smart meter prices will accurately reflect actual procurement costs, ensuring consumers are not unduly burdened.
