Pre-paid power supply in Bangalore

The concept of pre-paid power supply is all set for introduction in Bangalore from the third week of September.

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) will give all the electricity consumers in the City the option of switching over to the pre-paid system of power supply.

Under the system, electricity consumers will have to pay money towards power consumption in advance depending on their requirement. The consumers opting for pre-paid power supply will have to install a new pre-paid meter, which will have a key-pad for re-charging the connection. The pre-paid power consumers will be given a 20 digit number, which has to be entered into their electricity meters through the key-pad.

“The consumers have to visit the re-charge booths of BESCOM and get the 20-digit code of any denomination by paying cash”, said a BESCOM official.

The new pre-paid power supply meters will have additional features including a display system that goes beyond providing information on the total number of electricity units consumed so far and the number of units (credit) left. “It also provides details on the number of units consumed on any particular day, week or month, besides the average daily power consumption for the last six months”, the official added.

BESCOM decided to introduced the pre-paid power supply system in Bangalore in a big way after the success of a pilot project in the regard. BESCOM has already given a letter of acceptance to a private company – Secure Meters Limited – for implementation of the project in Bangalore from the third week of September, said BESCOM Managing Director Gonal Bheemappa.

The pre-paid system of power supply will help the consumers know about their power consumption pattern. “It would pave the way for conservation of energy by promoting responsible power consumption among consumers”, Bheemappa said.

Apart from the benefits for the consumer, the BESCOM stands to gain in the form of a reduction in financial risk as the power supply company gets its payment for service in advance unlike the present system in which it receives payment only after 30 to 45 days.

The pre-paid power also reduces the overhead costs of BESCOM in the form of manpower required for manual reading and billing of electricity meters across the City.

Though the pre-paid meters come at a cost of Rs 4,500 for the electricity consumer, BESCOM officials said a consumer opting for pre-paid system will receive the reimbursement of the security deposit they had paid for the existing post-paid system.

The concept of pre-paid power supply, which is already prevalent in Delhi and parts of West Bengal, is expected to be introduced in a big way in Bangalore with the private company entrusted with the task of implementing the project holding discussions with builders and promoters.