Solan:
Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited has termed the claims made by a person named Dilip Singh regarding smart meters and electricity poles as baseless and misleading.
In a press release issued from Shimla, a board spokesperson said the issue was raised during the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ programme held on February 27, 2026 in Gram Panchayat Jaunaji of Solan district.
The spokesperson clarified that the ₹12,000 electricity bill mentioned by Dilip Singh actually belongs to domestic consumer number 100001070839 and covers the period from December 2024 to January 2026. Due to non-payment, the outstanding amount has now increased to ₹13,906.
According to the board, the consumer had earlier also defaulted on payments for nearly 12 months. The pending bill of ₹12,825 for the period November 2023 to November 2024 was eventually paid on December 23, 2024. A smart meter was later installed at the connection in May 2025, but the consumer has again failed to pay the electricity bills since then.
The board further stated that due to non-payment, the electricity supply was temporarily disconnected on January 22, 2026 following a notice issued on December 3, 2025.
Officials also revealed that two other domestic connections and one commercial connection registered in the consumer’s name also have long-pending bills. The spokesperson alleged that Dilip Singh concealed these facts and presented misleading information on a public platform.
Regarding the electricity pole issue, the board said its inspection found that the pole had been installed at the roadside more than 20 years ago, while the house appears to have been constructed later near the road and the existing pole.
The electricity board urged the public not to pay attention to such rumours and advised people to verify facts before believing information circulating on social media, adding that several earlier claims about smart meters were also found to be false after investigation.
