CSPDC ropes in private firm for electricity bill collection

The electricity bill collection in the state will now go to the private hands as the power company has started the practice in a few places on experiment basis.

The Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company (CSPDC) has hired a Mumbai-based firm for the purpose.

On an experiment basis, the electricity bill collection work in Raipur, Sarangarh and Bemetara has been given to the private party.

According to company officials, the firm has set up 20 pay-centres across the three cities.

Of it, 16 will be in Raipur and two each in Bemetara, and Sarangarh.

The power consumer can approach the centres and directly pay the bill. The officials said this would relieve the consumers from standing in long queue.

CSPDC Executive Director G L Bijoure said that the company had deposited advance security money from the firm to avoid any irregularity.

The firm would collect the bills upto the security deposit submitted with the company, he added.

The power company employees however smelled foul play in the deal and said the state government was trying to give backdoor entry to the private parties.

“The company has been experimenting things with private participation and the consumer, employees and the power company will have to pay the cost later,” General Secretary of power employees union Arun Dewangan said.The earlier practice of private party’s participation in the affairs of power company has not gone well. A cooperative bank that was authorized to collect electricity bill was yet to give the money to the power company that it had collected from the consumer.