BackECONOMY
UP prepaid disconnections: nearly 10 lakh consumers still offline after mid-March drive
In Uttar Pradesh, mass disconnections of prepaid electricity connections began in mid-March 2026 over recharge arrears totaling ₹1,366.62 crore, leaving 9,77,722 consumers offline as of April 18. A public review on April 21 directed officials to persuade customers to recharge rather than force it, with PuVVNL remaining the hardest-hit region amid widespread negative balances and arrears.
Why It Matters
The event highlights challenges in the rollout of prepaid smart meters, including consumer friction, rising negative balances, and potential impacts on reliability and financial sustainability of the distribution companies.
Timeline
12 Events
April 21, 2026: UPPCL reviews disconnections; officials told to persuade recharge
April 21, 2026
At a statewide review meeting, UPPCL chairman Ashish Kumar Goyal directed officials to persuade consumers to recharge prepaid meters to restore power supply and instructed staff not to force recharges.
Illicit power draw not ruled out
April 18, 2026
An official stated that some disconnected consumers may be illegally drawing power without recharging; this possibility could not be ruled out.
Share of negative dues by region
April 18, 2026
PuVVNL accounts for 37% of total negative dues, PVVNL 25%, MVVNL 19%, DVVNL 16%, and KESCo 2%.
Meter status: 82,07,245 meters installed; 81,16,125 prepaid active; ~12% affected
April 18, 2026
UPPCL noted 82,07,245 smart meters installed across UP and 81,16,125 prepaid consumers active in the RMS system; about 12% of prepaid users are either disconnected or in negative balance.
Negative balance: 21,92,771 prepaid consumers with ₹636.14 crore dues
April 18, 2026
Active prepaid consumers in negative balance total 21,92,771 with dues of ₹636.14 crore; before the March mass disconnections, arrears were over ₹900 crore.
KESCo: 6,809 disconnected; no post-paid arrears
April 18, 2026
Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (KESCo) had 6,809 disconnected out of 73,225; zero post-paid arrears among disconnected consumers; prepaid negative balance ₹24.13 crore.
PVVNL: 1,19,370 disconnected; 11,94,568 recharges
April 18, 2026
Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) had 1,19,370 disconnected out of 13,13,938; 11,94,568 recharges totaling ₹373.14 crore; prepaid negative balance ₹44.41 crore; post-paid arrears ₹83.19 crore.
MVVNL: 2,05,654 disconnected; 8,91,826 recharges
April 18, 2026
Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (MVVNL) had 2,05,654 disconnected out of 10,97,480; 8,91,826 recharges totaling ₹294.79 crore; prepaid negative balance ₹169.27 crore; post-paid arrears ₹401.94 crore.
DVVNL: 2,56,560 disconnected; 11,99,165 total
April 18, 2026
Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) had 2,56,560 disconnected out of 11,99,165; 9,42,605 recharges totaling ₹321.55 crore; prepaid negative balance ₹82.85 crore; post-paid arrears ₹367.10 crore.
PuVVNL: 389,329 disconnected as of Apr 18, 2026
April 18, 2026
Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PuVVNL) reported 3,89,329 disconnected consumers out of 13,29,367; 9,40,038 recharges totalling ₹352.92 crore were processed; prepaid negative balance ₹184.01 crore; post-paid arrears ₹1,063.92 crore.
As of April 18, 2026: 9,77,722 consumers remain disconnected
April 18, 2026
UPPCL data compiled till April 18, 2026 shows 9,77,722 consumers still disconnected across the state's discoms.
Mid-March 2026: Mass prepaid disconnections begin in UP
March 2026
In mid-March 2026, about 50,13,175 prepaid electricity connections were disconnected across Uttar Pradesh due to recharge arrears totaling ₹1,366.62 crore; by April 18, 2026, 9,77,722 of those customers remained without power.