Electricity consumers may soon be able to pay their bills in advance for a period of 12 months.
In May, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) took a decision to propose a plan where consumers who wished to pay a lump sum towards their energy bills. Bescom will arrive at the 12-month advance amount based on the average monthly bill. However, the move will have to be approved by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC).
“Consumers can avoid the trouble of remembering due dates, late payment charges and disconnection. In addition, the amount deposited would attract interest, which Bescom will pay in the form of adjustment in each month's bill,” a senior official said.
The deposits would give Bescom additional liquidity to pay power generators. According to estimates, Bescom would save ₹95 crore if it paid its power purchase bills on time.
Besides this, manpower that is dedicated to meter reading and bill collection could be diverted for other operations and maintenance work.
Before approaching the KERC, Bescom is working out the interest rates as well as the category of consumers that the scheme would be applicable to.
A similar scheme was cleared by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission in April this year.
