collection and payment systemspayments are

Question

Collection and Payment Systems

Payments are currently made in person in most of the places. Only some places payments could be made on line or by the ATM (Automated Teller Machine).  Power utilities could use IT (Information Technology) applications for payment, such as

1. Electronic payments, including direct debit payments
2. Prepaid metering
3. Bar coding facility, even while payment is made in person, for faster payment
4. Multiple payment locations and not restricted to a particular division subdivision

For giving electronic payment, use of IT would be needed for providing interface along with entities such as banks and building Internet based payment processing. At present, power utilities permit only full payment and the system for giving part payment is minimal or does not exist.  This could be introduced through the power utilities.

Revenue protection is highly dependent on the reports generated for MIS (Management Information System) viz. Reports of consumption rise or drop more than 20 percent, list of consumers along with irregular payment, consumption below norms etc. The vigilance department should use these details to take action against erring consumers.