Frustrated by inflated electricity bills and the alleged inaction of the electricity department, a consumer in Himachal Pradesh has adopted an unusual way to register his protest — by praying before a smart meter.In a video that has gone viral on social media, the consumer is seen offering prayers to the smart meter installed outside his closed shop, pleading with it to show mercy and stop generating exorbitant bills. The act, laced with sarcasm and desperation, has struck a chord online and reignited concerns over alleged faulty billing linked to smart meters.The consumer, Harish Chauhan, an apple grower from Sheel Village in Rohru, claimed that he received an electricity bill of over Rs 17,000 in March, followed by another bill of more than Rs 6,000 in April, despite his shop remaining shut for several months.Chauhan alleged that not a single switch had been turned on during the period, yet the smart meter continued to produce hefty bills. “I complained to the department twice, but no corrective action has been taken so far,” he said, adding that the meter continues to generate unusually high bills.The viral video has triggered widespread reactions on social media, with many users sharing similar grievances regarding smart meter billing and questioning the functioning of the system.