Energy Minister Refutes Opposition’s Claims on Prepaid Meters, Cites Benefits for Jagdanand Singh

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Energy Minister Bijendra Yadav has dismissed opposition allegations of corruption related to smart electricity meters in Bihar, stating that there is no basis for claims of dishonesty. Responding to RJD state president Jagdanand Singh’s recent comments about removing prepaid meters, Yadav pointed out that Singh himself uses one, which has resulted in a 17% reduction in his electricity bill.

According to data from 2020 to 2023, Singh and his family, including his daughter-in-law Saraswati Devi, have seen reduced electricity bills after installing prepaid meters, though his son Sudhakar Singh has recorded an increase in consumption. Yadav emphasized that the opposition’s role is to criticize, but his focus is on providing electricity to every household in Bihar. He reiterated that prepaid meters are not a political issue and have been well-received by the public.

Yadav also shared that smart meters have been installed in 50 lakh homes across Bihar, with only a small number of complaints reported. Of the 20,000 complaints received, 19,000 have already been resolved. The minister added that by 2025, all homes in the state will be equipped with smart meters.

Addressing concerns over allegations of exploitation by the meter installation company, Yadav stated that these accusations are unfounded. He further clarified that the matter had been taken to the Supreme Court, which issued a verdict in favor of the tender process. The Bihar government has provided a subsidy of Rs 15,000 crore to date, ensuring that electricity remains affordable for the state’s consumers.