Kerala Approves Smart Prepaid Electricity Billing for Government Users

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has approved a new billing procedure to introduce a smart prepaid metering system for government electricity consumers receiving power at the low-tension (LT) level. This approval covers Phase I of the smart prepaid rollout and allows the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to adopt the proposed billing mechanism for eligible government connections.

Under the new procedure, smart prepaid meters will enable daily provisional billing based on energy use, with final monthly reconciliation of charges and automatic credits or debits to consumers’ prepaid accounts. The system also allows balance recharges via digital channels and sets out reconnection protocols if the prepaid balance runs low. Importantly, the KSERC has allowed a transition period until March 1, 2026 for government offices moving to the prepaid mode.

While the regulator approved the billing process for Phase I, it has asked KSEB to submit a separate petition detailing capital investment plans and other aspects before extending smart prepaid metering to additional consumer categories. The first phase is expected to cover around 300,000 government connections, and smart prepaid is seen as aligned with broader power sector reforms in the state.