Number of domestic consumers who are using online payment has increased
official said that number of consumers using the online facility has gone up over 25 per cent this year
Chennai: Despite Tangedco’s effort to promote online payment of power bill among domestic consumers over the last year, so far only 15 per cent of the consumers preferred to pay their charges online. The number of domestic consumers who are using online mode of payment has increased from eight per cent in 2012 to 15 per cent in 2014, said sources in Tangedco. The corporation has a total domestic consumer base of 1.72 crore. In the city, the official said that number of consumers using the online facility has gone up over 25 per cent this year.
Tangedco has been holding awareness campaign across the state to encourage consumers to use alternative modes of bill payment, especially online payments through Tangedco website www.tnebnet.org. “We have been conducting publicity campaign to encourage people to make use of the online payment facility. We have also pasted posters in all the bill collection centres,” the official said.
Even though the corporation introduced the online payment facility long ago, not many consumers were using it apparently due to lack of awareness or needless worries. Many consumers, particularly in the districts, complain about failed transactions due to internet connectivity problem.
S. Venugopal, a resident of Villivakkam, said that he made an online payment of Rs 730 on September 30, the last day for payment, and he had received SMS from the bank saying that amount has been debited. No receipt was generated by the website confirming payment, he said. “When I checked the website again, the bill status continued to show amount as due,” he said, adding that he paid the bill in the collection centre next day to avoid disconnection.
The state government has been asked to keep open the urban common service centres (UCSC) on Sunday for consumers to pay their bills. “In many houses, both husband and wife are working. It will be helpful for them to pay their bills in UCSC if it is kept opened on Sunday,” an official said.
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