LUCKNOW, Sept. 29 -- All new electricity connections in Uttar Pradesh will now be released only with prepaid smart meters. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) chairman Ashish Goel on Monday issued instructions to the managing directors of all distribution companies in this regard.

According to the directive, in line with the guidelines of the Government of India, wherever smart meters are to be installed, they must be prepaid smart meters.

Goel said that in the identified areas where smart meter installation was already being taken up on priority, all new electricity connections (except for agricultural consumers) must be issued only with prepaid smart meters, as per the instructions given earlier.

He further directed that ...