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State power utility to start on-the-spot billing and payment facility

Referring to a news item that had appeared in a Pune publication, chairman and managing director (CMD) of the power utility Sanjeev Kumar said war of words between consumers and utility officials was common.

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Almost 2.5 crore power consumers in the state will soon be able to avoid the monthly headache of average billing by availing themselves the facility of on-the-spot billing and payment. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), the power utility in the state, is all set to use mobile apps to make this possible.

Referring to a news item that had appeared in a Pune publication, chairman and managing director (CMD) of the power utility Sanjeev Kumar said war of words between consumers and utility officials was common. In this case, one prof Gadgil had a war of words with a lineman who had gone to disconnect his power supply for non-payment of bill. However, Gadgil had paid the bill just the day before and the lineman had records showing Gadgil as a defaulter. Obviously, the lineman didn't have a refreshed list of defaulters, said Kumar, adding that in order to avoid such incidents, MSEDCL would soon provide the facility of instant billing and payment at the doorstep of the consumer.

Kumar explained that on many occasions the person who takes the meter-reading for issuing monthly bills finds the consumer's doors locked. In such cases, average billing is done, creating problems for the consumer. Such issues would be sorted out now. If the consumer is not at home, MSEDCL would be able to know if the person taking the reading had physically gone to his place. The consumer would be informed via text message that a meter-reader had visited their house and they were not at home. Consumers can then send the photograph of their meter-reading to MSEDCL via WhatsApp and get accurate bills, Kumar added.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled four mobile apps out of which three are for the 70,000-strong MSEDCL staff and one for the consumers, informed Kumar, adding that once the apps are put to use, the latest information whether the bill payment is done or not would be available to the lineman at the click of a button.

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