State discom's fixed cost model lauded

Ranchi: Jharkhand has again earned accolades from the World Bank, this time for Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Limited's "progressive approach", said the distribution company on Thursday.
A team from the World Bank working with the department of industrial Policy and promotion (DIPP) under the ministry of commerce and industries has appreciated Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) for its 'fixed cost estimate' model.
Addressing media here on Thursday, JBVNL MD Rahul Purvar said the distribution company is focusing on improving infrastructure as well as trying to develop a mechanism to make power connection and bill payment processes consumer-friendly.
"Any consumer can directly apply for new power connection through http://advantage.jharkhand.gov.in/singlewindow which in turn is linked with the web application of JBVNL thereby making the process of applying easy and fast," he said adding that the evaluating team appreciated this initiative in the wake of the fact that no other state has yet linked power connection applications with its site for promoting industries.
Purvar said to make bill payment easy, chief minister Raghubar Das on April 28 launched mobile app eZy-bZly which is available on google play store.
"The app is useful for both rural and urban consumers as they can see their monthly bill and make payment online, without any requirement to queue up in the offices and kiosks," he said.
Consumers in Ranchi electric supply area have the facility for spot billing where the bill is uploaded within 48-72 hours of meter reading and consumers can make the payment while for other electricity supply areas like Dhanbad, Hazaribag, Jamshedpur, Dumka, Giridih and Medninagar electricity consumption bill is uploaded every 15th day of the month.
"Consumers can accordingly check their new bill using the app and make payment as well. Issues of paid bill not being adjusted , if any, can be done by filing online complaints or by calling toll free numbers 1912 / 18001238745 / 18003456570 handled by JBVNL," Purvar said.
Purvar shared details of purchase made till date and those in the pipeline for realising the dream of power to all by year end.
He said that out of 1735 villages left for electrification 598 are being covered under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY), 276 under Deen dayal Upadhaya Grameen jyoti yojna, 298 under sansad aadarsha gram yojna and 494 remote villages are being electrified using solar power by Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development authority (JREDA).