HC stays single judge’s order on prepaid smart meters for heavy industry
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Shimla, June 26
Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the operation of a Single Judge’s order directing the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) to install prepaid smart meters for M/s Kundlas Loh Udyog and extend the applicable rebate to the industrial consumer.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi admitted a batch of Letters Patent Appeals filed by the Board and fixed the matter for hearing in October 2026.
During the hearing, senior counsel appearing for HPSEBL argued that installation of prepaid smart meters for large industrial consumers with a 20 MW load is not technically feasible under the existing metering technology.
The Board relied on the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations and subsequent notifications, contending that consumers with current carrying capacity beyond the prescribed Indian Standards are required to be provided with Smart Meters having Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) or Automatic Remote Meter Reading facilities rather than prepaid smart meters.
Counsel for the industrial unit, however, submitted that Central Government notifications mandate supply through smart meters operating in prepaid mode and pointed out that industrial and commercial consumers were required to shift to the prepaid system by December 31, 2023.
It was further argued that the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission had already provided a rebate for prepaid consumers, though the rate has since been reduced.
After considering the rival submissions, the Division Bench held that the matter requires detailed examination and admitted the appeals.
The Court stayed the operation of the impugned judgment while recording the Board’s undertaking that no recovery would be made from the industrial consumer in respect of benefits already extended under the Single Judge’s order until the appeals are finally decided.
Court would hear this matter in October 2026.
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