<p>Bengaluru: Close to 14,951 smart meters have been installed in Bescom jurisdiction since the smart meter was made mandatory for new and temporary power connections, data accessed by <em>DH</em> shows. </p>.<p>Most of them were unwilling to purchase smart meters and were forced to buy as Bescom mandated their use, many electrical contractors said. </p>.<p>The vendor listed out by Bescom had pegged the cost of smart meters at Rs 4,998 for a single-phase smart meter and Rs 8,880 for a three-phase smart meter. This, many house owners felt, was expensive.</p>.<p>“Many property owners refused to pay such a high amount and questioned why there was such an increase in cost. We told them there was no other way they could get power supply and hence they agreed,” said Chandrababu H N, secretary, Karnataka State Licensed Electrical Contractors Association.</p>.<p>Electrical contractors <em>DH</em> spoke to said many citizens were not keen on getting the meters installed, but fell in line since Bescom made it mandatory.</p>.Bescom to develop digital consumer grievance redressal portal.<p>“We staged a protest and told officials that the hefty prices were a burden on the public. However, officials said that it was a central government direction and asked us to explain the same to property owners,” Chandrababu said.</p>.<p>The energy department has also not signed up to the revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS) offered by the central government, which experts say could have put a check on the cost of smart meters. </p>.<p>“The price would have definitely been under check since the central government is involved and accountability is higher. The central government has supervisory jurisdiction and hence checks and balances would have been in place,” said M G Prabhakar, advisor for the energy committee, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.</p>.<p><strong>Host of featurers</strong></p>.<p>The smart meters come with a communication system which offers a host of features including remote tracking of power usage and details on power use patterns. </p>.<p>Since February 2025, Bescom has made smart meters mandatory for temporary and new connections.</p>.<p>On April 25, 2025, the High Court stayed the order after a consumer approached it, arguing that the price of smart meters was significantly less in other states and Bescom’s decision to mandate such high-priced meters was causing inconvenience.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Close to 14,951 smart meters have been installed in Bescom jurisdiction since the smart meter was made mandatory for new and temporary power connections, data accessed by <em>DH</em> shows. </p>.<p>Most of them were unwilling to purchase smart meters and were forced to buy as Bescom mandated their use, many electrical contractors said. </p>.<p>The vendor listed out by Bescom had pegged the cost of smart meters at Rs 4,998 for a single-phase smart meter and Rs 8,880 for a three-phase smart meter. This, many house owners felt, was expensive.</p>.<p>“Many property owners refused to pay such a high amount and questioned why there was such an increase in cost. We told them there was no other way they could get power supply and hence they agreed,” said Chandrababu H N, secretary, Karnataka State Licensed Electrical Contractors Association.</p>.<p>Electrical contractors <em>DH</em> spoke to said many citizens were not keen on getting the meters installed, but fell in line since Bescom made it mandatory.</p>.Bescom to develop digital consumer grievance redressal portal.<p>“We staged a protest and told officials that the hefty prices were a burden on the public. However, officials said that it was a central government direction and asked us to explain the same to property owners,” Chandrababu said.</p>.<p>The energy department has also not signed up to the revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS) offered by the central government, which experts say could have put a check on the cost of smart meters. </p>.<p>“The price would have definitely been under check since the central government is involved and accountability is higher. The central government has supervisory jurisdiction and hence checks and balances would have been in place,” said M G Prabhakar, advisor for the energy committee, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.</p>.<p><strong>Host of featurers</strong></p>.<p>The smart meters come with a communication system which offers a host of features including remote tracking of power usage and details on power use patterns. </p>.<p>Since February 2025, Bescom has made smart meters mandatory for temporary and new connections.</p>.<p>On April 25, 2025, the High Court stayed the order after a consumer approached it, arguing that the price of smart meters was significantly less in other states and Bescom’s decision to mandate such high-priced meters was causing inconvenience.</p>
