APSPDCL To Phase Out Bill Counters; Targeting 100% Digital Payments
The shift towards a cashless system, however, comes with the challenge of bringing lakhs of consumers onto digital platforms.
TIRUPATI: Electricity bill collection counters of the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) will be closing down gradually, with the power utility deciding to push digital transactions in a phased manner and achieve 100 per cent online bill payments.
The shift towards a cashless system, however, comes with the challenge of bringing lakhs of consumers onto digital platforms. At present, only 49.5 per cent of APSPDCL’s 61.32 lakh consumers are paying their electricity bills through online modes. About half of the customers continue to depend on conventional payment methods.
APSPDCL supplies power across Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, and Sri Sathya Sai districts. Consumers of the discom pay electricity bills worth nearly ₹520 crore every month. In this regard, the discom has started giving priority to online payments even at its Electricity Revenue Offices (EROs).
The power utility has introduced several digital payment options, including on its official website, through mobile application, Dynamic QR Code, WhatsApp Governance (Mana Mitra), net banking, debit cards, and credit cards.
APSPDCL chairman and managing director (CMD) Siva Sankar Lotheti said the digital push is aimed at reducing cash transactions, improving transparency, and providing faster services without requiring consumers to visit offices or stand in queues for bill payments.
"Special measures are being taken to create awareness among consumers regarding online bill payments. Necessary instructions have been issued to superintending engineers of all districts to encourage consumers to switch over to digital platforms," Siva Sankar pointed out.
He cautioned consumers against fake payment links, messages, and unauthorised applications. He advised them to make payments only through the official APSPDCL website and mobile application to ensure secure transactions and avoid frauds.
The CMD appealed to consumers to support the discom’s digital initiative and pay their bills online.
Officials underlined that physical bill collection centres would be closed in a phased manner after creating adequate awareness among consumers.
