TNEB mulls bill payment through mobile phones

CHENNAI: If a recent proposal of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) fructifies, you could pay your electricity bill at the push of a button on cellphone. Under the plan, a unique number, similar to the ‘PIN’ assigned by the banks will be allotted to consumers. When the users send their distinctive number through SMS, the bill amount will be credited to TANGEDCO and debited from the users’ bank account. According to sources, the plan is at a preliminary stage. Software, accounting and technical options were being explored to facilitate fund transfer through mobile phone. Also, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorities are being consulted.“The RBI is studying certain (accounting) modules for fund transfer. Since the amount involved will be huge, we want a robust system (software and technicalities) in place,” an official said. The initiative is part of efforts of the electricity authorities to help consumers make their payments at ease without having to visit the local EB offices and wait in serpentine queues.Already, online payment facility is available. Customers of banks including Indian Bank, IOB, ICICI and CUB can pay bills via net banking. A scheme of 30-day assessment and collection is also being followed in almost all regions of Tamil Nadu.Now, bringing the largest bank of India, the SBI and enabling payment through the mobile phones are the recent initiatives of TANGEDCO. Sources said that the SBI had asked TANGEDCO to get a certification - guaranteeing the safety features of its fund transfer software used by banks - from the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate under the Union Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.The certification process is in the final stages. Once the TANGEDCO’s software is certified fool-proof, the SBI is likely to extend the facility of remitting the electricity bill online to its customers, the sources added.