Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao has accused the Telangana government of attempting to weaken the free electricity scheme for farmers through the introduction of prepaid power meters.

Reacting to the state cabinet’s decision to replace existing electricity meters with prepaid systems, KTR alleged that the move could eventually extend to agricultural pump sets and households across Telangana. He claimed the Congress government was paving the way for greater private involvement in the electricity sector.

The former minister said the BRS had earlier warned voters during the 2023 Assembly elections that free power for farmers could come under threat if the Congress assumed office. Referring to former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, he stated that the previous government had resisted pressure to implement prepaid metering despite financial challenges.

KTR further urged the public to oppose any move that could impact farmers and household consumers, alleging that prepaid systems may increase the burden on ordinary citizens.

The debate over prepaid electricity meters is likely to become a major political issue in Telangana, especially in rural areas where free agricultural power remains a sensitive subject. While governments often argue that prepaid systems improve billing efficiency and reduce losses, opposition parties fear such measures could eventually increase costs for consumers.

For farmers, the key concern will be whether future reforms affect uninterrupted access to subsidised electricity, which remains crucial for irrigation and agricultural operations across the state.