The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has raised serious concerns over a sharp surge in electricity bills at the housing complex for the urban poor in Nongmensong and said the reason was installation of pre-paid smart meters.
According to the KSU, residents who earlier managed their monthly bills with Rs 500–Rs 600 now reportedly pay a minimum of Rs 2,000 for the same period—an amount many cannot afford.
The union said that households unable to pay the new rates are subjected to automatic disconnections by the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), leaving many families in darkness.
The Nongmensong unit of the union has taken up the issue with Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal on Tuesday.
The student said these pre-paid smart meters were installed without prior consultation or consent from the residents; most of them living belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL).
The KSU told Mondal that the humanitarian crisis is unfolding and urged him to immediately intervene and switch over to the billing system adopted in the past.
“We appeal on humanitarian grounds to revert to the old rates, keeping in mind the dire financial condition of these families, most of whom live hand to mouth,” the KSU said.
The Power Minister assured that the government would review the matter. “They (KSU) have brought their grievances to me, including the lack of consultation. We will look into the overbilling allegations and examine what exactly is happening there,” Mondal said.
He further clarified that the installation of smart meters is part of a nationwide directive from the Ministry of Power aimed at improving billing transparency and efficiency. “There are multiple issues with the old system, such as wrong billing, delayed or accumulated bills, and suppressed readings. Smart meters are designed to address these problems,” the minister stated.
Addressing questions about public dissent regarding the rollout, Mondal acknowledged the concerns and hinted at possible solutions, including the installation of dual meters to verify discrepancies. “If needed, we can place two meters side by side to monitor and compare readings. These issues will be looked into.”
Mondal added that the smart meter project is being implemented in phases across the state, in line with national guidelines.
