Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Brahmapur, June 9:
Electricity consumers in eight south Odisha districts will
be now able to pay their electricity bills in 400 sub-post offices and Head Post Offices in these districts, said sources.
Distribution utility Southern Electricity Supply Company
of Odisha Ltd (Southco), a Reliance Infrastructure controlled company, has
entered into an agreement with Bhubaneswar Postal Circle for collection of
electricity bills through 400 post offices in Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput,
Rayagada, Malkanagiri, Nabarangapur, Kandhamal and Boudh districts.
The postal circle will be paid some commission for
collection of electricity bills by the distribution company (discom), said
official sources in Southco. However, no extra amount will be charged to the
consumer for payment through post offices, the sources clarified.
The arrangement has been especially made for facilitating
payment of electricity bills by rural consumers in their village post offices,
said an official of Southco.
Postal department has developed a special software for the
purpose to be issued in post offices wherever computers are available. In post
offices where computers are not available, money receipts jointly developed by
Southco and postal department will be provided to consumers, the official said.
Similarly discom Southco has also entered into agreements
with ICICI Bank and two private companies for collection of utility bills.
Besides, Southco has a tie-up with the State Bank of India
Southco which has around 1.5 million consumers including
private and government entities collects around Rs 60-65 crore revenue from
consumers every month, sources said.