Electricity Board bill alerts through SMS

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Gene­ra­t­ion and Distribution Corporation (Tang­ed­co) is all set to launch SMS alert facility to en­able power consu­m­ers to keep track of the­ir bi-monthly electricity bills.

The power utility has tied up with a service pr­ovider for the SMS facility, which is ready to be launched. “We have sought the appoi­n­t­ment of chief minister Jayalalithaa to launch SMS alert system,” sa­id sources in the electr­icity department.

As per the proposal, two SMSes will be sent to consumers. The con­su­mer will receive first SMS, as soon as the as­sessor enters the consumer’s meter reading in the computer. The SMS will show consu­mer’s service connection number, consumption charges and due date.

The second SMS will be sent three days prior to the last date for bill payment to alert those consumers who have not paid their bills to avoid disconnection.

As on date, 95 lakh consumers have registered their mobile numbers to avail the facility.

The state’s total domestic consumer base stands at 2.20 crore. The consumers can avail of the facility by registering their mobile numbers in their local section offices.

If the consumer fail to pay the amount within due date, his or her service connection is liable for disconnecti­on.

However if not disconnected, the consu­m­er have to pay belated surcharges. In case if the service is disconn­ected, the consumers have to pay a reconnection charge of Rs 60, said a senior official.

“The SMS system is being introduced basically to help consumer who unknowingly def­a­u­lt on bill payment and face disconnection. The consumers can also av­oid payment of belated surcharge and rec­onn­ection charges,” a Tan­gedco offici­al said.