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Minister launches mobile number-power bill integration work
Six-seven messages should be sent to each consumer intermittently immediately after his final monthly bill is ready and generated, energy minister AK Sharma said
Energy minister AK Sharma on Tuesday launched the work to integrate power users’ mobile number with the billing system to make it possible for them to get alert messages on their registered number before their connection is snapped due to non-payment of dues.
The integration work, as was done by telecom companies, was initiated after the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) collected three crore consumers’ contact details through a state-wide KYC campaign in February.
“Now, three crore users can receive alerts with regard to any power disruption in their locality, bills, disconnection, etc. on their registered phone number,” the minister said. He also directed officials to ensure two-three messages were sent to consumers prior and after the due date before snapping the connection in the event of non-payment of bill.
He said six-seven messages should be sent to each consumer intermittently immediately after his final monthly bill was ready and generated.
Later, holding a virtual meeting with field officials to the power supply in view of disruptions caused by employees’ strike and continuing unseasonal rains, Sharma asked officials to promptly normalise the supply in the affected areas. He asked them to ensure uninterrupted power supply to religious places in view of coming festivals. He also asked them to be quick to change worn-out poles, cables and wires considering the fact that power load would increase in the days to come in summer.
Laying stress on the need for enhancing revenue recovery, the minister said big defaulters should be regularly contacted so as to put more pressure on them. He noted that the UPPCL had achieved only 25% of its revenue target in March so far, and asked the officials to compensate for the deficit in the remaining days of the month.
