BEST to install check-meter to tackle consumers’ complaints of inflated bills on smart meters

Amid growing complaints over inflated bills after the smart meter rollout, Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) on Thursday (September 24, 2026) has launched a special redressal campaign — setting up ‘Smart Meter and Billing Help Desks’ across all its customer care wards to offer on-the-spot bill verification, on-site meter testing and check-meter installation. 

BEST Officials said that this is a response to consumers’ query about the unexpected sudden increase in electricity bills following the smart meter modernisation initiative.

In July, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) initiated the replacement of smart meters within 48 hours. However, it received flak from consumers as well as unions for expensive bills and imposing to change meters. 

Smart meters, compared to conventional meters, record the electricity consumption of a particular consumer and send the data to the electricity company in a real time, removing all the manual readings. It records time, date and unit value of each unit consumed in real time. 

The initiative addresses complaints from electricity consumers of BEST Undertaking who have had smart meters installed with the aim of reducing communication gaps, clearing doubts regarding billing, providing transparent and on-the-spot evaluations to consumers, reviewing individual consumer issues, inspecting and testing the meter. 

BEST plans to put up scheduled camps to resolve billing issues, put in place Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) to resolve disputes, BEST technical teams will conduct on-site inspections to verify the accuracy of the smart meters, install Check Meters to compare the consumption data between both meters, create awareness to install of the miBEST Mobile App and the benefits of Time of Day (ToD) tariff. 

Consumers who are facing unusually high bills after the installation of smart meters are requested to visit their respective Customer Care Ward between 10:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m. on the dates specified. 

BEST has scheduled the campaign on September 28 and 29 in A & E Ward of Mumbai, September 30 and October 1 in B & F/S Ward, October 5 and 6 in C & F/N Ward, October 7 and 8 in D & G/S Ward, and on October 8 and 9 in GN Ward to resolve their grievances.