JBVNL initiates billing agency overhaul amid poor performance

Ranchi: Recognizing the need for change in light of the agencies’ underwhelming performance, the Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) has opted to remove them rather than extending their contracts. To this end, JBVNL has initiated a tender process to choose new agencies, with multiple companies vying for selection. Several companies have expressed interest in handling various area boards. Ultimately, JBVNL will make the selections and allocate the work. These new agencies are expected to be in place before May 2024. In the interim, the existing agencies have been instructed to continue their operations to ensure a seamless transition.

However, the on-spot billing system in Ranchi has faced considerable setbacks, especially after the installation of smart meters. Of the 3.5 lakh smart meters to be installed in Ranchi city, approximately 1.5 lakh have been put in place, with only about 15,000 being prepaid meters. On-spot billing has been discontinued in most parts of the city, except for pre-paid services, which has posed challenges for the general public. This situation has arisen, in part, because over 50 percent of Urja Mitras (meter readers) working for the billing agency Competent Energy in the Ranchi Area Board have resigned. As a result, the billing and reading system has significantly deteriorated.

Billing agencies for each area board:

Ranchi Area Board: Competent Energy
Jamshedpur Area Board: Quescor
Dhanbad-Giridih Area Board: EMDE
Hazaribagh-Medininagar Area Board: Sai Commuter
Dumka Area Board: VAIVSU
It’s worth noting that the agencies working in Dumka and Dhanbad have ceased their operations, with local individuals taking on the role of Urja Saathi for on-spot billing work in their place.