<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Bescom) on Tuesday informed the Karnataka High Court that the installation of smart electricity meters is only for new connections and not for existing ones.</p><p>The submission was made before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice CM Joshi.</p><p>The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Karnataka Vidyuth Sene and others, arguing that all customers are now being required to shift to the new smart meters.</p><p>The petitioners have challenged the tender notification issued in February 2025 for the procurement of new smart meters. They have sought directions quashing the circulars relating to the installation of smart meters.</p>.Govt doctor suspended over bribery allegations in Karnataka.<p>The petitioners have also sought a direction to adhere to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) guidelines and the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act and Rules in the tender process pertaining to the procurement of smart meters.</p><p>A further restraint direction has been sought with regard to imposing the cost of smart meters upon consumers who already have functioning static meters.</p><p>The petitioners said the authorities are charging higher prices for the smart meters, while in many neighbouring states, smart meters are distributed at Rs 900 per piece.</p><p>The petitioners stated that as opposed to the KERC regulations, which state the installation of smart meters as optional, the authorities have issued guidelines compelling every consumer to install smart electricity meters without any choice.</p><p>During the hearing, the division bench was also informed that a single bench, while hearing a petition filed by a consumer, had issued an interim direction restraining both the Bescom and the state government from making smart meters compulsory in contravention of the KERC guidelines.</p><p>The division bench ordered notice to the state government, KERC and Bescom, and adjourned the hearing.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Bescom) on Tuesday informed the Karnataka High Court that the installation of smart electricity meters is only for new connections and not for existing ones.</p><p>The submission was made before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice CM Joshi.</p><p>The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Karnataka Vidyuth Sene and others, arguing that all customers are now being required to shift to the new smart meters.</p><p>The petitioners have challenged the tender notification issued in February 2025 for the procurement of new smart meters. They have sought directions quashing the circulars relating to the installation of smart meters.</p>.Govt doctor suspended over bribery allegations in Karnataka.<p>The petitioners have also sought a direction to adhere to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) guidelines and the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act and Rules in the tender process pertaining to the procurement of smart meters.</p><p>A further restraint direction has been sought with regard to imposing the cost of smart meters upon consumers who already have functioning static meters.</p><p>The petitioners said the authorities are charging higher prices for the smart meters, while in many neighbouring states, smart meters are distributed at Rs 900 per piece.</p><p>The petitioners stated that as opposed to the KERC regulations, which state the installation of smart meters as optional, the authorities have issued guidelines compelling every consumer to install smart electricity meters without any choice.</p><p>During the hearing, the division bench was also informed that a single bench, while hearing a petition filed by a consumer, had issued an interim direction restraining both the Bescom and the state government from making smart meters compulsory in contravention of the KERC guidelines.</p><p>The division bench ordered notice to the state government, KERC and Bescom, and adjourned the hearing.</p>