AP power utilities step up efforts to recover dues from Govt departments

Power utilities in Andhra Pradesh have stepped up efforts for recovery of dues from Government departments such as rural water supply, irrigation and civil bodies.

 

These departments account for heavy consumption and have also piled up heavy dues. The utilities plan to request the State Chief Secretary to hold a meting of these key departments to help in recovery of dues since the financial health of power sector will play a pivotal role in the overall economic development of the State.

 

According to a statement from the State Energy Coordination Cell, the State power utilities have appealed to all electricity consumers to pay monthly electricity bills promptly before the due date either at designated centres or through online payment mechanism. It mentioned that the timely payment helps power utilities ensure quality power supply and in effective implementation of various consumer welfare programmes.

 

IT initiatives

 

Reviewing the latest IT initiatives, Citizen Charter and various issues of power sector, Suresh Chanda, Chairman and Managing Director of AP Transco has requested net-savvy electricity consumers to avail the facility of paying electricity bills through online facilities without any extra transaction charges. He advised consumers to utilise various consumer services and grievance redressal mechanisms.

 

The CMD said the corporation was adopting comprehensive IT system for enhanced accountability. He advised high tension (HT) consumers to pay their electricity bills through Real Time Gross Settlement System.

 

The State has 2.57 crore electricity consumers including 32.68 lakh agriculture pump sets. These pump sets account for about 95 per cent of farmers getting free power.

 

He said efforts will be made to address grievances of consumers by conducting regular consumer meets and rythu sadassulu. The power utilities are striving hard to extend quality and adequate power to the extent possible to all categories of consumers even by additional power procurement.

 

The State power utilities have focused on adhering to the Citizen Charter issued to attend to the grievances such as billing discrepancies, replacement of stuck up/burnt meters and to release the new connections, transfer of ownership and conversion of categories in a time-bound manner.