“The initiative to deliver daily readings and power charges on the smart phones of power consumers could be the beginning of any process mandating the authorities to disconnect power facility to consumers immediately on expiry of their power tariff charges.”
The recent advisory of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) for pre-paid consumers warning disconnection for failure in payment of tariff charges in Kashmir necessitates delivery of daily readings and bills on the smart phone of every consumer across Kashmir. The initiative to deliver daily readings and power charges on the smart phones of power consumers could be the beginning of any process mandating the authorities to disconnect power facility to consumers immediately on expiry of their power tariff charges. Unfortunately the KPDCL authorities have issued the advisory threatening disconnection on expiry of power tariffs much before taking any initiative for delivery of daily readings and bills on smart phones of pre-paid power consumers in Kashmir Valley. The argument of pre-paid power consumers in Kashmir about pre-paid reading and billing system is that this facility on their smart phones would give them an idea about the judicious use of electricity and consequently restrain them from excessive usage of power which would in turn reduce their power tariff bills also. Worth mentioning is the fact that the presently pre-paid power consumers check their bills on monthly basis on KPDCL portal like the post paid consumers and transfer power tariff payments to KPDCL power tariff portal accordingly. As far as the disconnection advisory for pre-paid consumers in Kashmir Valley is concerned administrative wisdom demands that such an advisory is issued simultaneously by Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) in Kashmir Valley and Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) in Jammu division respectively but this advisory has been issued by only KPDCL for pre-paid power consumers in Kashmir only. Unfortunately advisory for pre-paid consumers in Kashmir has been issued amid unprecedented rise in the grievances about unscheduled power cuts even from thousands of pre-paid power consumers across Kashmir. Unfortunately the KPDCL has shifted its attention from the promise of scheduled power curtailment schedule to smart meter reading and billing system for pre-paid consumers amid unscheduled power cuts.
“Since the top priority of the Government is the strict implementation of the power curtailment schedule but not the advisory warning disconnection on expiry of tariff charges to pre-paid consumers, administrative wisdom demands that KPDCL focuses its attention on implementation of scheduled power cuts and in larger public interests puts on holds its advisory warning disconnection to pre-paid consumers immediately on expiry of power tariff charges till the time delivery of daily readings and power charges on the smart phones of power consumers is introduced simultaneously in Kashmir Valley and Jammu division.”
With none else than the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah promising his personal supervision over the strict implementation of the power curtailment schedule days after the new popular Government assumed office the unscheduled power curtailments should not have become a matter of public annoyance for KPDCL this year again much before the commencement of the harshest period of winter called “Chilla-i-Kalan” from third week of December. Since the top priority of the Government is the strict implementation of the power curtailment schedule but not the advisory warning disconnection on expiry of tariff charges to pre-paid consumers, administrative wisdom demands that KPDCL focuses its attention on implementation of scheduled power cuts and in larger public interests puts on holds its advisory warning disconnection to pre-paid consumers immediately on expiry of power tariff charges till the time delivery of daily readings and power charges on the smart phones of power consumers is introduced simultaneously in Kashmir Valley and Jammu division.
