Gone are the days when people had to wait in long queues and repeatedly visit the offices of electricity department for work like payment of bill, new connection and lodging complaints. All these services are now available online, through SMS, e-mail, mobile short code service and Central Call Centre started by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company limited (CSPDCl).
The online services started by the company are not only saving time and money of the consumer but also reducing physical and mental stress, officials stated. The consumer can pay the bill according to his convenience on all week days with the help of ATP machines from 8am to 8pm.
The other options available for payment of bill are through website by Airtel Money, credit card, debit card or internet banking. Apart from these options, pay-point centers and spot billing are also available with help of cheques, CSPDCl Managing Director Subodh Singh said.
The consumer can use the website for latest bill, duplicate bill, advance payment, payment receipt and information about bill and payments of past 24 months. Similarly, complaints regarding power cut, defunct street lights could also be registered online.
Other facilities like bill calculator for estimated bill and tariff besides nearest payment centre is also available, he said. With help of information technology tools, the department uses SMS service to inform the consumer about bill, reminder of payment and information about disconnection for delay in payment of bill besides information related to power cut in case of breakdown for more than four hours.
The complaint can also be registered through e-mail, SMS on 56161 and by use of log code service by sending SMS on 9243150000. The company has started Central Call Centre (number 1912) benefitting lakhs of consumers of 20 cities.
The Central Call Centre has 30 lines and is operation round-the-clock. The consumer can lodge complaint in Hindi, English and Chhattisgarhi language. SMS is sent to the consumer after registration and disposal of the complaint. In case the complaint is not addressed in given time period, it is automatically forwarded to the concerned senior officers.
To improve the customer service, a data center has been established by CSPDCl at Dangnia in the city. The Data Center established on 1650 square feet has a storage capacity of 110 terabyte, officials said.They said that for providing power backup to the Data Center, a UPS system of 300 KVA capacity has been installed there.
The power is supplied to the Data Center by two 500 KVA transformers with auto-change over facility. Similarly, at the centralised call center as many as 30 lines are available on telephone number 1912. The customers can lodge their complaints 24X7 on this helpline, officials said.
The officers said that the company is using advanced technology systems to provide more and more good services to the consumers. The Energy Information Technology Centre of the company has started innovative works under the R-APDRP scheme.
For a new connection, the people of Chhattisgarh need not to frequent the office of Energy Department. CSPDCl is providing online electricity connection through its website www.cseb.gov.in, officials said.
The applicant will have to input the required information on the format provided on the website and attach the required documents. The new connection is given after verification of documents and information uploaded by the applicant, the officials said.
Overall, as long as 1.36 lakh kilometre increase has been registered in the power supply lines of different capacity during the last 11 years in Chhattisgarh. Since the formation of the State, about 1.50 lakh kilometre extension has so far been made in different capacity power lines in the State, officials stated.
CSPDCl officers said that with the addition of these lines, the total length of power lines in the State has reached to 2,54,721 kms. Out of this, 1,54,311-km is of low Tension (lT) and 83,311-km 11 kV capacity line and 17,384 km 33 kV capacity lines. At the time of formation of the State, the total capacity of power lines was 1,04,858 km.
Along with the extension of power supply lines, rural electrification has also been speeded up. The percentage of rural electrification in 2001 was 90.71, which now has increased to 97.39 per cent. From December 2003 to July 31, 2014, electrification of 1,154 villages has been done. Electrification of 446 villages has been done through conventional and 706 villages through non-conventional methods by CREDA.
Since formation of Chhattisgarh, till November 31, 2003, 119 villages had been electrified through conventional and 102 through non-conventional energy. Now, total 19,057 villages have been electrified in the State. During the period, the number of electrified major settlements has been increased to 25,048.