Bihar Smart Prepaid Meter Services to Be Temporarily Disrupted from May 13-15
In an effort to enhance service quality for smart prepaid electricity consumers, both South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) have announced a temporary upgrade of the prepaid meter system.
🗓️ Upgrade Dates: May 13 to May 15
⚡ Electricity Supply: Will remain uninterrupted
💡 Balance Display: May be temporarily disrupted
What’s Changing for Consumers?
During the upgrade:
- Prepaid meter functions will be temporarily offline
- Excludes Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur
- Power supply remains unaffected
Here’s What You Need to Know:
- ✅ Electricity will continue as usual — no power cuts
- 🔋 Recharges allowed, but balance won’t immediately reflect
- 📲 After May 15, balances will be visible again
Areas Affected
The upgrade affects all urban areas of Bihar except:
- Gaya
- Muzaffarpur
- Bhagalpur
📩 Affected consumers have received SMS alerts from power companies.
Timeline of the Upgrade
| Activity | Dates |
|---|---|
| Prepaid system upgrade | May 13–15 |
| Real-time balance updates | Temporarily halted |
| Electricity supply status | Uninterrupted |
| Area exclusions | Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur |
Why This Upgrade?
This is part of a statewide effort to modernize electricity billing. Key goals:
- 🔍 Improved balance accuracy
- ⚡ Faster recharge processing
- 🔐 Enhanced system security
Officials confirm: “This is a planned upgrade with no long-term disruption.”
Did You Know?
Bihar is one of the first Indian states to roll out smart prepaid meters at scale — encouraging transparency and digital efficiency in power usage.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Prepaid services will be disrupted May 13–15 (urban Bihar)
- Power will stay ON — no blackout expected
- Balance updates are paused temporarily
- Recharges are allowed, will reflect post-upgrade
- SMS alerts have notified impacted users
❓ FAQs
Will my electricity be cut if the meter shows zero balance?
No. Your electricity will remain active during the upgrade.
Can I recharge my prepaid meter during the outage?
Yes. You can recharge as usual, but balance updates will reflect after May 15.
Which cities are exempted from this maintenance?
Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Bhagalpur city regions are not affected.
How will I know if my area is affected?
You would have received an SMS alert from SBPDCL or NBPDCL.
What’s the purpose of this upgrade?
To improve system speed, billing accuracy, and user experience for prepaid users.