LUCKNOW, Oct. 18 -- The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued a notice to the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) for unilaterally fixing and collecting higher charges for smart prepaid meters without prior approval.

The directive follows a petition by the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad under Section 142 of the Electricity Act, 2003, alleging violation of the Commission's orders.

UPERC objected to the UPPCL arbitrarily determining smart prepaid meter cost.

Instead of seeking regulatory approval, the corporation reportedly used the rate of non-smart prepaid meters (IS:15884) as a base to set the cost of smart meters (IS:16444), resulting in an unauthorised recovery of about Rs.6,016 per consum...