Patna: Bihar’s electricity consumers will face a temporary suspension of all online power services for 24 hours as the state’s power distribution companies undertake scheduled network maintenance and software upgradation. The shutdown will remain in effect from 8:00 PM on June 27 to 8:00 PM on June 28, prompting authorities to advise consumers to complete all essential online work in advance.
The advisory is particularly important for users of smart prepaid electricity meters, who have been urged to ensure sufficient balance before the maintenance window begins.
All Digital Consumer Services to Remain Unavailable
According to the electricity distribution companies, several online services will remain inaccessible throughout the maintenance period. These include electricity bill payment, smart prepaid meter recharge, new electricity connection applications, load enhancement or reduction requests, name correction, bill revision and all other online consumer-related services.
Consumers will also be unable to submit any digital applications during this period.
Power Supply Will Continue Without Interruption
The electricity department has clarified that consumers using smart prepaid meters need not worry about power cuts if their recharge balance gets exhausted during the maintenance period.
Electricity supply will continue uninterrupted, and any recharge or billing updates will be processed once online services are restored after the maintenance work is completed.
Network and Software Upgrade Underway
Officials from the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) and the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) said the temporary shutdown is part of a comprehensive network and software upgrade aimed at strengthening the state’s digital electricity infrastructure.
Earlier, on June 6, smart meter services were also temporarily affected for a few hours due to server maintenance.
The department said the latest upgrade is expected to improve the speed, security and overall reliability of online consumer services in the future.
Consumers Asked to Recharge Before Deadline
The department has made a special appeal to smart prepaid meter users to recharge their accounts before 8:00 PM on June 27.
Officials warned that recharge services will remain unavailable throughout the maintenance period, making advance planning essential to avoid inconvenience once digital services resume.
Peak Summer Demand Increases Consumer Complaints
Meanwhile, rising temperatures and increasing electricity demand have led to a surge in complaints related to transformer fuse failures across several areas of the state.
Power officials said complaint volumes increase significantly during peak hours, often resulting in busy customer care lines. The department added that efforts are underway to further strengthen the grievance redressal system and improve response time.
Temporary Inconvenience for Better Services
The Energy Department has appealed to consumers to cooperate during the scheduled maintenance, stating that the temporary disruption is necessary to deliver faster, safer and more efficient digital services in the future.
Consumers have been advised to complete bill payments, meter recharges and all other essential online electricity-related work before the maintenance period begins to avoid any inconvenience.
