People across Goa are expressing deep concern over the forced installation of smart electricity meters by the Goa Electricity Department, despite many existing meters functioning efficiently. In several areas, citizens have openly protested and stated that they do not want these replacements. However, the installation process continues without adequate public consultation or consumer consent. Residents are questioning why perfectly working meters are being replaced using public money. Many feel that the decision lacks transparency and has been imposed without clearly explaining the long-term impact on consumers. In a democracy, the concerns of citizens must be respected. Consumers fear that smart meters may lead to higher electricity bills due to inaccurate readings or prepaid billing systems. There are also concerns about remote disconnection of power, privacy issues related to digital monitoring of electricity usage, technical failures, and additional maintenance costs. Many believe replacing non-faulty meters is an unnecessary financial burden and a waste of taxpayers’ money when several important civic issues still remain unresolved. The government must pause the forced installations and hold open discussions, independent audits, and awareness programmes before proceeding further.
