Assam's CM Sarma Declares ₹1 Reduction in Electricity Tariffs
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Synopsis
On April 1, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared a ₹1 reduction in electricity tariffs, providing consumers relief before the summer heat. This initiative includes an annual rebate, aiming to ease the financial burden on households amid ongoing debates about smart electric meters.
Key Takeaways
- ₹1 per unit reduction in electricity tariffs announced.
- Relief provided to consumers ahead of summer.
- Controversy surrounding smart electric meters.
- Opposition claims inflated bills from smart meters.
- Government defends the accuracy of smart meters.
Guwahati, April 1 (NationPress) Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a power tariff reduction on Tuesday, providing consumers relief ahead of the upcoming summer in Assam.
Sarma shared on X, “It’s April – temperatures will rise, but your electricity bill will fall. Starting today, households in Assam will experience a ₹1 per unit reduction in their electricity bills, alongside an annual rebate.” He humorously added, “PS: This isn’t an April Fool prank.”
Simultaneously, the implementation of smart electric meters has sparked controversy between the ruling party and the opposition in Assam.
Opposition leaders claim that the smart meters are leading to inflated power bills, causing distress among the public, a claim the state government firmly denies.
Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi stated, “The state government is harassing the general public by imposing higher charges through smart electric meters. We oppose the installation of such meters in homes and urge the government to reverse its decision.”
Recently, opposition legislators protested in the Assembly against smart prepaid meters, with Congress and other parties uniting against the government's stance. However, the government maintains that the smart meters are free from errors and have not resulted in inflated bills.
Minister Pijush Hazarika remarked, “The power department has been installing smart electric meters in households for over a year now. There have been no significant complaints from the public. It is common for power bills to increase in summer, as is the case this year as well. This does not imply that the new meters are faulty.”
He also suggested that opposition MLAs install two meters side by side in their homes for a month to verify any discrepancies in their power bills.
