Power consumers whose meters not read get two options

LUCKNOW: The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) on Sunday announced two options for consumers to get their electricity meters read and receive bills.

The move came after questions were raised over the ban on consumers approaching customer care centres to pay bills on the basis of self-declared meter reading before the 15th of any month.

UPPCL chairman and principal secretary, energy, Alok Kumar clarified that the ban on the payment of bills on the basis of self-declared reading or consumption of units had been imposed in view of some consumers causing revenue loss to the department by misusing the facility. “We have, however, given two options to the consumers to save them from any inconvenience,” he said. As per the first option given by the UPPCL, a consumer can lodge his complaint on the toll-free number 1912 if no meter reader visits his premises to issue a bill by the seventh of any month. After the consumer conveys his bill account and ID number, the complaint will get transferred to the area’s SDO, who will ensure that the consumer’s meter is read and the bill made available to him. Under the second option, a consumer in the same situation can send an SMS to 5616195, writing the name of the concerning discom like MVVNL, then give space and write ‘Noreading’, Kumar said. “The consumer will get a return message instantly and receive a call from the call centre, seeking details within 30 minutes. The details will be forwarded to the area’s SDO who will make the bill available to the complainant,” he said.