Smart Meter Blunder: Vadodara Woman Gets Rs.7.81 Lakh Power Bill

Vadodara, Gujarat – In a shocking incident that has added fuel to the ongoing protest against smart meters in Gujarat, a woman from Vadodara received a staggering electricity bill of ₹7.81 lakh for four months. The customer, Ushaben Patel, a resident of a government-allotted house under the PM Awas Yojana in Sama area, was left stunned by the amount.

“I used to receive electricity bills of ₹1,500 to ₹2,000. After the smart meter was installed, I was assured of accuracy and transparency. But this ₹7.81 lakh bill is beyond belief,” said Ushaben, visibly distraught. “We now understand why people are protesting against these smart meters. We want MGVCL to remove this meter and reinstall the old one.”

The bill, delivered after a four-month gap, left the family in disbelief. Concerned about a possible error, Ushaben immediately contacted MGVCL’s customer care, demanding clarification.

Officials from the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) acknowledged the mistake. Deputy Engineer of MGVCL said, “This is a technical error. The consumer’s actual bill is around ₹5,000. The inflated ₹7.81 lakh figure was a system fault. We will issue a revised bill shortly.”

This case has intensified public anger and reinforced growing distrust toward the smart meter rollout across Gujarat. Many residents in southern and central Gujarat have staged protests, alleging exorbitant billing and poor response from power companies.

“Such billing errors are unacceptable. These smart meters are supposed to improve accuracy, not harass people,” said Jignesh Chauhan, a local social activist. “People living in affordable housing cannot afford surprises like these.”

The Gujarat government and power companies are now under pressure to re-evaluate the smart meter implementation strategy and ensure that consumer grievances are addressed promptly and transparently.