Missed Your Power Bill? Smart Meters in Himachal Will Cut Supply Automatically

Electricity consumers in Himachal Pradesh will now need to be extra careful about paying their bills on time. The state Electricity Board has announced that under new rules, if a bill isn’t cleared by the due date, smart meters will automatically disconnect the power supply—no manual intervention required.

The reconnection fee remains ₹240, the same as before, but the process has changed. Once dues are paid along with the fee, electricity won’t return instantly. Consumers will have to wait around 30 minutes for the supply to resume. Officials are urging people to avoid this inconvenience by settling bills promptly.

Another big change is the shift to online billing. Gone are the days when staff visited homes with paper bills. Now, bills will be sent directly to registered mobile numbers and email IDs. The Board has cautioned that failing to check these digital bills could lead to missed payments—and automatic disconnection.

With smart meters now installed across the state, strict enforcement of these guidelines has already begun. The move is expected to streamline billing and improve efficiency, but it also places greater responsibility on consumers to stay alert and keep their accounts updated.