Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has stated that consumer consent is not required for replacing existing electricity meters with smart meters, according to an official reply obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI response was secured by an intervenor in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on smart meters being heard by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. Advocate Sundeep R. Badana, appearing for intervenor Rajabal Chandrakant Ilme, submitted the reply before the court through a pursis, stating that it is relevant for deciding both the intervention application and the main PIL.
In its reply, MSEDCL clarified that it has no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) requiring contractors to obtain consumer permission before replacing functional electricity meters. The utility maintained that the replacement of existing meters with smart meters falls within its statutory powers and does not require prior approval from consumers.
MSEDCL referred to directions issued by the Union Ministry of Power on February 25, 2021, under which both working and faulty electricity meters are to be replaced with smart meters.
The RTI reply also revealed that although smart meters have been installed in several areas, meter readings are currently being taken both manually and through the automated system. MSEDCL said the infrastructure required for completely remote meter reading is still under development, indicating that the smart metering system is not yet fully operational.
Further, the power utility stated that an internal memo dated June 16, 2025, directing field officers to assist contractor Monte Carlo Ltd in smart meter installation, is only an administrative instruction for MSEDCL staff and is not a legally binding order for consumers.
Documents attached to the RTI reply include correspondence between MSEDCL and Monte Carlo Ltd, one of the agencies implementing the project, as well as minutes of review meetings held in March and April 2025. The records show that MSEDCL has directed the agency to complete smart meter installation across Maharashtra by June 2026 under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
The meeting records also highlight a gap between the number of smart meters installed and the availability of their readings in MSEDCL’s computer system. Officials instructed the contractor to resolve connectivity issues so that remote meter readings can be used for billing, avoid the issuance of average bills, and ensure that all bills are generated through the smart metering system.
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