BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 5th July 2025: A wave of discontent swept through Dharmanagar today as scores of electricity consumers staged a protest outside the local power department office, demanding the removal of newly installed digital electricity meters. The demonstrators, many of whom carried placards, alleged that the digital meters have led to exorbitant electricity bills three to four times higher than previous charges.
Residents from various wards under the Dharmanagar Municipal Council participated in the protest, claiming that despite repeated visits to the electricity office, their grievances have gone unheard. “I’ve been coming to the office for a week now,” said one aggrieved consumer. “I only use a single bulb and a fan, yet my bill shot up to Rs 1,004. After some adjustments, it came down to Rs 918, but when I came to pay, I was told it’s Rs 957. I paid on the 3rd, before the due date, yet I was charged extra.”
The protestors also highlighted a steep rise in service charges. “The duty charge used to be Rs 21, now it’s Rs 55. Meter picture charges have increased from Rs 55 to Rs 84 and the meter rent has gone up from Rs 10 to Rs 15,” the same consumer added.
The protest, which lasted several hours, prompted senior officials from the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) to intervene. North District Additional General Manager Gopesh Ghosh and General Manager Debasish Das met with the protestors and listened to their complaints. A delegation of residents later held a closed-door meeting with the officials to discuss the issue in detail.
Following assurances from the officials that the matter would be investigated, the protest was temporarily called off. However, the residents warned that if their concerns are not addressed promptly, they will launch a larger agitation in the coming days.
