NAMSAI/PASIGHAT, Aug 19: A sudden and steep hike in electricity bills has triggered widespread anger and confusion among citizens of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in Pasighat and Namsai District, where consumers have reported sudden hikes ranging from 200% to 300%.
The crisis comes in the wake of the government’s decision to introduce “smart meters” through a private agency (for Installation) . Many consumers allege that the Department of Power has failed to maintain transparency, leaving households and businesses reeling under inflated bills.
One consumer from Namsai shared “The department failed to provide bills for almost six months, saying upgradation was going on. When the bills were finally generated, I was shocked to see a hike of nearly 300%. To make things worse, they now claim I don’t even have a meter at my home, even though I’ve always had one since I took legal connection from the same department with a proper meter and paying a monthly Bill with the same meter. Whose fault is this?”
Another consumer pointed out 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 lamented.
Small business owners too are facing heavy losses. A shopkeeper with a commercial connection said“Earlier, my monthly bill was around ₹1,200–₹1,300. Now it has jumped to ₹10,000–₹12,000. This is unbearable.”
According to staff from the Department of Power Namsai, the new bills are being generated through smart meters, with the per-unit charge doubled from ₹2 to ₹4, and a 2% surcharge imposed on late payments. In cases where no meter is installed, consumers are reportedly being charged a minimum of ₹500 per month or more.
Adding to the resentment, consumers claim that apart from the inflated bills, the government is also collecting ₹21.33 as a meter rent fee, a charge that most common people say is beyond their understanding.
The sudden escalation in electricity bills has not only caused financial distress but also eroded public trust in the system. Citizens are now demanding urgent intervention and accountability from the state government to address what they describe as “unjustified exploitation.”
