Tripura Electricity Consumers Association submits deputation against TSECL over server failures

Anger spilled onto the streets across Tripura on Monday as prolonged server failures in the state’s electricity distribution system left thousands of prepaid smart meter users unable to recharge, plunging households into darkness. 

The crisis triggered widespread demonstrations, road blockades, and a formal deputation submitted by the Tripura Electricity Consumers Association (TECA) to the Bhuturia office of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), demanding immediate redressal.

Meanwhile, the most intense protest erupted in Teliamura, where men and women blocked the National Highway after claiming they had been unable to recharge their meters for nearly three days. 

Protesters alleged that despite repeated attempts, their electricity connections were disconnected, leaving families without power during the monsoon season. They demanded that supply be restored until the server issue is resolved, suggesting temporary billing adjustments instead of cutting off electricity.

As the blockade disrupted traffic, police and paramilitary forces were deployed. Protesters alleged that a lathi-charge was carried out when they refused to withdraw, resulting in injuries to several demonstrators, including women. 

However, the alleged use of force has drawn sharp criticism, with sections of the public accusing the administration of suppressing protests rather than fixing the technical fault.

In Dharmanagar, residents reported that Division-I and Division-II electricity offices have faced server failures for nearly a week, preventing prepaid recharges and delaying new services. Long queues of consumers, including elderly people and women, were seen outside offices, many returning home without service. 

Officials admitted a technical fault in the server infrastructure, with Division-II managers reportedly saying normal services may take another four to five days to restore — a statement that further fuelled public anger.

Similar difficulties were reported from the Sekerkote, Darogabari Electricity Office in Kamalasagar, where consumers faced prolonged delays in depositing bills due to persistent server problems.

The six-point deputation submitted by TECA demanded compensation for consumers who endured days without electricity, rollback of abnormal hikes in bills and charges, and immediate restoration of services. 

Protesters stressed that the prepaid smart meter system’s dependence on centralized servers has left consumers vulnerable, urging TSECL and the state government to establish reliable backup mechanisms.

While local officials have acknowledged technical issues, there has been no detailed statewide statement from authorities on the cause of the outage, the number of affected consumers, or the timeline for full restoration. 

For now, the public’s patience is wearing thin, as both electricity and drinking water crises continue to disrupt daily life across Tripura.