Consumers in Uttar Pradesh, India, are caught in a dilemma regarding prepaid smart meters. Although the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has stated that prepaid meters are no longer mandatory, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) continues to issue new electricity connections solely in prepaid mode. This has left consumers with little choice and has sparked protests across various regions. The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has remained silent on the issue, failing to provide clear guidance or enforce consumer rights. UPERC officials privately acknowledge that the revised notification from the Centre does not mandate prepaid meters, yet no new directives have been issued to distribution companies. The situation has raised concerns among consumers and activists, who argue that their rights are being ignored. UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman Awadhesh Kumar Verma has filed a petition urging UPERC to act on the Centre's position. Meanwhile, UPPCL has paused the conversion of existing post-paid meters to prepaid ones but continues to enforce prepaid meters for new connections, effectively limiting consumer choice.