PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has claimed that the smart metering facility being installed in the State has started yielding positive results. The officials informed that it has successfully obtained electricity consumption readings for 3.88 lakh consumers in a single day this month through the smart meters it has installed. Based on these readings, electricity bills amounting to approximately Rs 390 crore were generated through the corporation’s billing system. This achievement is of particular significance, as this amount represents approximately 45 per cent of UPCL’s average monthly revenue, demonstrating the speed, accuracy and reliability that smart metering has brought to the billing and revenue collection process, the officials claimed.
The managing director of UPCL, Anil Kumar Yadav said that availability of real-time consumption data through smart metres has effectively reduced the problem of estimated or delayed billing. The automated system has led to a significant reduction in human intervention and errors, making the billing and collection process more streamlined, transparent and timely. This has not only strengthened the department’s commercial efficiency but also enhanced consumer confidence, he said.
He said that UPCL is also making electricity bills available to registered consumers via WhatsApp, ensuring they receive them on time which has made things more convenient for the consumers.
Yadav added that consumers who are not yet receiving bills via WhatsApp can register their number on the official UPCL website to avail of this service.
“In addition, to provide quick services to consumers in their respective areas, UPCL is also organizing electricity camps in various districts of the state. These camps offer a range of services at a single location including resolution of billing-related complaints, settlement of outstanding dues, addressing load and connection-related issues, providing information about smart meters and offering consumer counselling. This saves consumers from unnecessary trips to offices and makes service delivery more convenient and efficient,’’ he said.
