Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (MVVNL/Lucknow Discom), which is one of the prime government-run electricity distribution companies in UP is set to undergo annual maintenance for the upgradation of its billing systems.

Owing to the same, the overall billing services for smart/prepaid meters will experience a temporary payment downtime starting from February 25, 6 PM, effective in 19 UP districts including Lucknow. With this, the temporary maintenance period will continue up until March 4, 12 PM.

Readers are advised to pay their pending electricity bills by February 24 to avoid additional charges and power disconnection.

Reportedly, MVVNL's public relations officer Shalini Yadav said "Consumers who have prepaid meters installed at their homes should recharge their meters before February 25th else their electricity will be disconnected."

"Consumers who have smart meters installed and pay their bills by the end of the month should also pay their bills before the duration by offline/online methods to avoid any kind of inconvenience or additional fine," she added.

Furthermore, the payment downtime will also remain in effect in other districts including Budaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Ambedkarnagar and Amethi.