New Billing Offices to Transform Electricity Services in Greater Noida's Remote Areas
For thousands of electricity consumers residing in the far-flung pockets of Greater Noida, correcting a simple billing error has long meant embarking on an exhausting journey to Noida's Sector 18. This arduous process may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to a significant initiative under the Urban Restructuring Plan (URP) rolled out by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).
Addressing the Distance Dilemma for Rural Consumers
The Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) is set to establish two new billing offices in Jewar and Dadri, a move specifically designed to bring essential services closer to residents. Currently, consumers from Jewar must travel approximately 64 kilometers, while those from Dadri cover about 33 kilometers, to reach the centralized billing office in Sector 18. This geographical challenge has placed a substantial burden on rural households, many of whom spend days chasing corrections for billing discrepancies.
Every month, more than 10,000 billing errors are reported in Gautam Buddh Nagar (GB Nagar), overwhelming the existing system and highlighting the urgent need for decentralized services. The pressure on the current infrastructure is palpable, with the Sector 18 office receiving around 150 calls daily on the 1912 helpline solely for bill corrections, according to Shivam Tripathi, Executive Engineer (billing).
Streamlining Processes and Enhancing Accountability
PVVNL Managing Director Ravish Kumar Gupta has directed district engineers to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the new offices, which will be presented before the board of directors later this week. If approved, this decision is expected to significantly ease the billing burden for the district's 4.5 lakh electricity consumers.
At present, resolving billing discrepancies can take up to seven days, causing frustration and inconvenience. To accelerate the process, responsibility for addressing errors has been delegated to the billing executive engineer (EE). Officials believe this delegation will improve both accountability and efficiency within the system.
Awaiting Formal Approval and Implementation
Confirming the development, Sanjay Kumar Jain, Chief Engineer of the Noida power department, stated that the proposal is currently awaiting approval from PVVNL's Meerut headquarters. "Once the clearance comes through, the offices will be set up," he assured. Officials are optimistic that the board meeting scheduled for January 28 will grant the green signal for these new facilities.
The introduction of these offices is anticipated to reduce overcrowding at the Sector 18 office and spare rural consumers from long, costly commutes. This initiative represents a critical step toward making essential utilities more accessible and user-friendly.
Expansion of the Urban Restructuring Plan Across Uttar Pradesh
The URP system, already introduced at various 33/11 kV substations across Noida, Ghaziabad zones 1 and 3, Saharanpur, Moradabad, and Lucknow, serves as a single-window grievance redress mechanism. It comprehensively covers issues related to:
- High Tension (HT) and Low Tension (LT) lines
- Metering inaccuracies
- Billing discrepancies and corrections
With over 23 helpdesks operating across Noida and Ghaziabad, the URP system currently serves more than 25 lakh consumers in these two districts, demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness in addressing consumer grievances.
This strategic expansion into Jewar and Dadri underscores UPPCL's commitment to enhancing service delivery and ensuring that electricity consumers, regardless of their location, receive timely and efficient support for their billing concerns.
