How To Get A Faulty Electricity Meter Replaced For Free And Claim Refund
Many Indian households are unknowingly footing inflated electricity bills. Not because they're using more power, but because their electricity meters are lying.
Aging meters, tampered ones, and even voltage-damaged meters often go undetected, especially in older apartments and small-town DISCOM networks.
Here's the good news: if your meter is defective, you have the right to get it tested and replaced for free. The law backs you.
And if overbilling has occurred, you can even claim a refund or adjustment. This explainer walks you through the what, why, and how including official rules, timelines, and real-world steps.
What Counts as a Faulty Meter?
Meters can go wrong in several ways and they don't always stop working. Sometimes they over-record usage, show static readings, or blink strange error codes.
If your electricity bill suddenly shoots up, despite no major appliance changes, that's your first clue. Other signs include:
What the Law Says
Under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and state-level electricity supply codes, every consumer has the right to a free replacement of their meter if it's found to be faulty or over-recording. If you suspect an issue:
If the meter turns out to be functioning fine, you may be charged a nominal fee for the test (usually Rs50–Rs200). But if it's faulty, you pay nothing.
How to Get It Replaced: Step-by-Step
Visit your local electricity office, customer care center, or the DISCOM's online portal.
Submit a written complaint with your consumer number, meter number, and reason for suspected fault.
Ask for an acknowledgement or complaint ID.
Clearly state that you want an official test conducted as per Electricity Rules.
You can request testing at a third-party lab approved by the state regulator, if you want more neutrality.
Within 7–15 days (depending on your state), a technician should inspect the meter.
The test may involve comparing your meter with a calibrated reference meter or conducting a phantom load test.
If the meter is over-recording, slow, or erratic, it will be declared faulty.
The DISCOM must replace it and refund the test fee, if collected.
A new meter is installed at your premises. The meter number and initial reading must be recorded in your bill.
The old meter is taken for internal audit or stored by the utility for verification.
You can demand recalculated bills based on past average usage or actual readings.
Refunds are either credited to your next bill or transferred to your bank account.
Escalate if there's no action
If the DISCOM doesn't respond, escalate the matter to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).
Beyond that, you can approach the Electricity Ombudsman or a local consumer court.
Real-World Cases Back This
In 2024, Jaipur's DISCOM initiated a large-scale meter replacement drive after internal audits found thousands of faulty meters.
In multiple states including Maharashtra, Punjab, and Karnataka, utility regulators have directed DISCOMs to reimburse consumers for excessive billing caused by defective meters.
Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board also issue regular service standards that define how long a DISCOM can take to respond to complaints and what penalties apply if they fail to act.
Your electricity meter is the source of truth for every unit billed to your household. If it's faulty, you're not just losing money, you're paying for something you never consumed.
Armed with the law and a simple complaint letter, you can get your meter replaced, your bills corrected, and your rights respected.
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electricity bills Free electricity Power Outages
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First Published:
August 01, 2025, 10:29 IST
News explainers How To Get A Faulty Electricity Meter Replaced For Free And Claim Refund
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