Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Jan 9: S. Sumanth, managing director of MESCOM at a press meet here on Tuesday January 8 announced the launching of an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) by the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd., (MESCOM).
 
The IVRS is basically a helpline and MESCOM is the first electricity supplying company to launch this new system, which would be effective from Tuesday, Jan 8 night itself, he said.
 
This scheme has been devised by MESCOM to address the complaints and grievances of customers round the clock as well as improve infrastructure facilities. Cellphone users may register their complaints by dialling 18004251917.
 
Customers calling from landlines need to dial 1917 instead. Both these numbers are toll-free, informed Sumanth. The company has allotted code numbers for service stations at different areas.
 
These are as follows: Jeppu - 1, Maidan - 2, Mallikante - 3, Mannagudda - 4, Kavoor - 5, Panambbur - 6, Kulshekhar - 7, Ullal - 8, Surathkal - 9, and Moodabidri - 10. These numbers are required to be dialled by the customers after being advised to do so by a pre-recorded message on the complaint lines.
 
The company has also adopted “auto-closures” and “sectionalisers”, in line with Europe and US, at seven sub divisions. Out of these 10 devices have been installed in the city division, 12 in Udupi, and two for the rest of the divisions, including Puttur, Shimoga, Kadur, Chickmangalur and Sagar divisions.
 
Each auto reclosures have been given 3 sectionalisers. These devices are expected to quickly identify faults in 11-kV power lines. Earlier fault detection was being done manually, which was time consuming.
 
Sumanth further informed that out of the three new 33-kv sub-station works, those in  Vogga and Kukkipadi villages of Bantwal Taluk would be completed by the end of this month. This is being done in the district to meet the growing needs of the people, he said.
 
The third sub-station will be set-up in Nelliyadi village of Belthangady taluk by March. The stations at Jaipura in Koppa, Attavara, Kadri, Nandigudda and Alake are also progressing, he further informed and added that the KPTCL has taken up the task of establishing a 22 kv sub-station at Puttur.
 
With regard to bill payment he said the electricity bills of any sub-division could now be paid by customers at the computerised post offices. He informed that electricity bills are being received through 52 post offices under the company limits since September 2007. 
 
Stating that many people were not aware of the facility, he called upon the public to avail of the same. “There is no need to fill forms or slips while paying the bill at post offices. However, payments are accepted by cash only till 4 p.m. on all working days,” he said. 
 
With regard to arrears, he said Rs. 37-crore worth outstanding payments have been received from gram panchayats for water supply and street lights used by them. While the remaining Rs. 50 crore will be recovered by end of March, said the MD.
 
Rs 112 lac penalty has been collected for power theft from 884 cases till November, 2007 as against Rs 73 lac in the previous year, he said. The collection efficiency of the company is 96% this year, he added.
 
According to him, the company has beaten its own national record for loss of energy in power distribution. The loss of power during transmission is 13.11% this year against 15.29% during 2006-07, he pointed out.