- Innocent Consumers are Becoming Victims of the Nexus Between the State Government and Tata Power
- Why is the State Government Silent on the CAG Audit?
- What is the Mystery Behind Purchasing Smart Meters at Higher Prices?
Bhubaneswar, 10/08/2026:Before Tata Power came to Odisha, the previous BJD Government had strengthened several aspects of the power distribution infrastructure in the State. As per the Vesting Order issued by the OERC, Tata Power was required to spend more than Rs. 5,000 crore for the development of power infrastructure in Odisha. So far, there has been no audit regarding how much Tata Power has actually spent towards infrastructure development. The BijuJanata Dal has strongly criticised Tata Power for forcibly recovering all the outstanding dues that existed earlier from consumers.
At a press conference organised at SankhaBhawan today, former Minister and MLA Dr. ArunSahoo and former Minister and MLA Captain Dibyashankar Mishra said that instead of providing continuous and quality electricity services to the people of Odisha, innocent consumers are facing various problems due to the nexus between the State Government and Tata Power.
Dr. ArunSahoo said that the State Government has provided a subsidy of Rs. 735 crore to Tata Power for smart meters. Out of this, Rs. 307 crore has been provided for meters already installed by the company, while Rs. 428 crore has been provided for installation of new smart meters. The question here is: when the Government has borne the cost of smart meters already installed by the company, why is the meter rent collected from consumers not being refunded to them?
While the price of smart meters in other States such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka was less than Rs. 3,000, the distribution companies have shown the price of a smart meter in Odisha as Rs. 3,993. On March 24 last, the OERC had advised that steps be taken for a CAG audit of all four distribution companies, yet the silence of the State Government is creating suspicion. It is worth mentioning that in May this year, the Delhi High Court directed that a CAG audit be conducted without relying upon the internal audits of the distribution companies.
The State Government should immediately take steps for a CAG audit. The annual reports of each distribution company, covering revenue collection, expenditure on infrastructure development, and profit and loss, should be made public. A special mechanism should also be established for resolving consumer complaints.
Captain Dibyashankar Mishra said that Tata Power has been repeatedly approaching the OERC seeking an increase in electricity tariffs on the pretext of rising operational costs. The BJP Government, which came to power raising the slogan of OdiaAsmita, is now bringing people from outside the State and appointing them at high salaries. Local youth who were employed on a contractual basis through agencies outside the State are being retrenched.
By removing SHGs and engaging agencies from outside Odisha, Tata Power is also making profits through meter reading, billing and bill collection. Even after receiving the entire cost from the Government for installing meters for consumers using electricity up to 2 KW, the distribution companies have still not refunded the meter rent collected from consumers.
Although there is a 1992 helpline for consumers, no service is being provided through it. The distribution companies are not giving due importance to the grievances raised by elected representatives.If the BJP Government of the State continues to turn a blind eye to these problems and the nexus between the State BJP Government and Tata Power is not brought to an end, then a massive public movement will emerge in the coming days.
