Staff Reporter 

NAMSAI, Aug 22: A sudden and steep hike in electricity bills has triggered widespread anger and confusion among citizens of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in Pasighat and Namsai, where consumers have reported hikes ranging from 200% to 300%.
The crisis follows the state government’s decision to introduce smart meters through a private agency. Many consumers allege that the Department of Power has failed to maintain transparency, leaving households and businesses reeling under inflated bills.
 “The department failed to provide bills for almost six months, citing upgradation work. When bills were finally generated, I was shocked to see a hike of nearly 300%. To make matters worse, they now claim I don’t even have a meter at my home, even though I’ve always had one. Whose fault is this?”
Another consumer expressed dismay that her monthly bill, which never exceeded `200 earlier, has now shot up to `800—despite frequent power cuts.
“In Namsai, electricity goes off for hours whenever there’s even light rain or wind. Sometimes we live without power for days. Yet, our bills are skyrocketing,” she said.
Small business owners too are bearing the brunt. A shopkeeper with a commercial connection revealed that his monthly bill, which earlier ranged between `1,200 and `1,300, has now jumped to a staggering `10,000–`12,000. “This is unbearable for small businesses like ours,” he lamented.
According to the staff of the Department of Power-Namsai, the new bills are being generated through smart meters, with the per-unit charge revised from `2 to `4, and a 2% surcharge imposed on late payments. In houses without meters, consumers are reportedly being charged a minimum of `500 or more per month.
Adding fuel to the public’s resentment, citizens allege that a mandatory rent charge of `21.33 per month is being collected as a “meter service fee,” a levy that many say they neither understand nor accept.
The sudden escalation in bills has caused financial distress and eroded public trust in the system. Citizens are now demanding urgent intervention and accountability from the state government, describing the situation as “unjustified exploitation.”
When contacted, the Assistant Engineer of the Power Department, Namsai, clarified,
“It is now a transition period from offline to online billing. Once everything is streamlined, it will be fine, I believe.” He further informed that M/s Anvil Cables, Kolkata, in collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh Smart Metering Pvt. Ltd., is undertaking the installation of smart meters across the district.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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