Training

on
LT Billing

Activities
on
23rd
December,2013.
1

Preamble
LT-Consumers:-Approximately 1.75 Crs. Consumers as on 30th Nov.,2013
As per directives of Corporate Office billing to be completed by 20th of the month.

Prompt Payment dates & Due Dates of Payments.

Prompt Payment Discount

A prompt payment discount of one percent on the monthly

bill
(excluding Taxes and Duties) shall be available to the
consumers if the bills are paid within a period of 7 days from the
date of issue of the bill, or within 5 days of the receipt of the bill,
whichever is later.

Prompt Payment Dates

Residential Consumers :-10 days from the date of issue of the bill
(as per
MERC order, 7 days from the date of issue of bill is
allowed however considering the time required for bill
distribution, 10 days are being allowed to avail Prompt Payment
Discount)
i)

ii)Commercial Consumers:- 7 days from the date of issue of bill.

iii) Industrial consumers:- 7 days from the date of issue of bill.
2

Preamble cont.
Due Dates
i)Residential Consumers

:-

ii)Commercial Consumers

15 days from the date of issue of bill.

:-

iii)Industrial Consumers :

21 days from the date of issue of bill.

15 days from the date of issue of bill.

Disconnection Notice:-

In case of Non-Payment on designated date a notice for disconnection is require to be issue on expiry of due date.As per the notice the dues have to be cleared within a period of 15 days.

MERC REGULATION
As per MERC Regulation,2005 (Standard of Performance
for Distribution Licensee.)
As per Regulation 9.1, reading of consumers meter shall be
undertaken by the authorized representative at least once in
every Three months for Agriculture Consumer & at least once in
every Two months for all other consumers.
At present all RCI consumers are billed on monthly basis. As per
Regulation 9.2 any change of name or change of Tariff category
shall be effected by the Distribution licensee before the expiry of
2nd billing cycle after the date of receipt of application.
As per Regulation 9.4 where the consumer applies for closure of
accounts with the Distribution licensee. The Distribution licensee
shall subject to satisfaction of all amounts due from the
consumers repay all outstanding amount due to the consumer
within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of such
application for closure of accounts.
4

MERC REGULATION cont.

As per MERC Regulation,2005.(Electricity Supply Code and Other
Condition of Supply)

Regulation 15.1.1, Intervals for Billing & Presentation of Bill

Except where the consumer receives supply through a pre-payment meter, the Distribution Licensee shall issue bills to the consumer at
intervals of at least once in every two months in respect of consumers in town and cities and at least once in every three months in respect of
all other consumers, unless otherwise specifically approved by the Commission for any consumer or class of consumers.

Regulation 15.2.4. the bill shall include the following information

a) consumer No., name and address.

b) Name of office of Distribution Licensee having jurisdiction
over the

supply.

c) i) Type of supply ( i.e. single phase, three-phase LT or HT).

ii) Contract demand / Sanctioned Load.
d) Category of consumer (i.e. domestic, commercial etc.).

MERC REGULATION cont.

e) Meter No.
f) Billing period ( dates to be mentioned).
g) Previous meter reading of the billing period / cycle with date.
h) Present meter reading of the billing period / cycle with date.
i) Multiplying Factor of the meter.
j) Number of units (e.g. kWh, RkVAh / kVArh, kVAh, etc.) consumed
during the billing period and, where relevant for determination of

charges,

during different time slots in the billing period.

k) Maximum demands during the billing period.
l) Average power factor during the billing period.
m) Last six months consumption.
n) Date of the bill and due date of payment.

MERC REGULATION cont.

o) Billing details The details for the current month
demand

and arrears shall be furnished in the

bills.
p) Security deposit details.
q)

Table

showing

the

various

components

of

applicable tariff.
r) Details of subsidy, if any, under Section 65 of the
Act.
s) Mode of payment and collection facilities.
t) Telephone number and address of Customer
Service centre

where the consumer can make a

bill-related complaint.
7
u) Telephone numbers and address of the Forum

Sample Billing Programme.

Meter Reading Image

July-2011

August-2011

Electricity Bill

10

Electricity Bill cont.

11

MERC REGULATION Cont.

Billing in absence of Meter Reading
As per Regulation 15.3.1,In case for any reason the meter is not
accessible, and hence it is not read during any billing period, the

Distribution Licensee shall send an estimated bill to the

consumer Provided that the amount so paid will be adjusted after
the readings are taken during the subsequent billing period(s).
As per Regulation 15.3.2,If the meter remains inaccessible after two consecutive efforts

to effect a meter reading, then in addition to any remedy

available to the Distribution Licensee under Section 163 of the Act, the consumer shall be served not less than seven clear working days notice to keep open the premises for taking the meter reading on the day stated in the notice; Provided that the notice shall also indicate the times at which the Authorised Representative shall remain present to read the meter.

As per Regulation 15.3.3,Where the consumer fails to keep the meter accessible on the days and at the times stated in the notice in Regulation 15.3.2 above, the same shall be
deemed to be a refusal of entry under the provisions of sub-section (3) of Section 163 of the Act and the consequences thereunder shall apply.

12

MERC REGULATION Cont.

As per Regulation 15.3.4,Without prejudice to the
provisions of the Act, nothing in Regulation 15.3.3 shall apply
where the consumer has provided prior intimation to the
Distribution Licensee, with cogent reasons, of any temporary
inaccessibility to the meter and has sought a facility for
advance payment in accordance with Regulation 15.6.
As per Regulation 15.3.5,
For the purpose of this
Regulation 15.3, the estimated bill shall be computed based on
the recorded consumption of the last billing cycle for which the
meter has been read by the Distribution Licensee.
Payment of Bills
As per Regulation 15.5.1, The due date for the payment
of a bill shall be mentioned on the bill and such due date shall
be not less than twenty-one days from the date in the case of
residential and agricultural consumers, and not less than
fifteen days in the case of other consumers.
13

MERC REGULATION Cont.

As per Regulation 15.5.2,In case the consumer does not
receive the bill or, having received the bill, has lost the bill, he
shall, before the receipt of the next bill, report the same to the
officer designated by the Distribution Licensee to address such
cases.
As per Regulation 15.5.3, Where the consumer visits the
office of the designated officer in person, the designated officer
shall, after verifying the identity of the consumer, communicate to
the consumer, on the spot, the amount of the bill and due date for
payment, and arrange to issue a duplicate bill within three days
from the date on which the consumer reported the non-receipt or
loss of bill, as the case may be; Provided that where the consumer
reports the non-receipt or loss of bill over the telephone, the
designated officer may also communicate the amount of the bill
over the telephone, after completion of suitable identity
verification procedure; Provided further that the non-receipt of bill
or loss of bill does not excuse the consumer from discharge his
obligation to make payment within the due date for payment
of
14

MERC REGULATION Cont.

As per Regulation 15.5.4, A consumer who neglects to
pay his bill is liable for levy of delayed payment charges and
interest on arrears in accordance with relevant the orders of the
Commission, appropriation of security deposit and / or
disconnection of supply in accordance with the provision of the
Act and these Regulations.
As per Regulation 15.5.5, The Distribution Licensee may
offer incentives to consumers for making prompt or early
payment of their bills, in accordance with the relevant orders of
the Commission.

15

Billing Activities
Existing Billing System

At present the billing is being done from Sub-Division offices under the overall supervision of Division Office.

Meter Reading

:-Through outsource Agency.

Data Punching

:-Through outsource Agency

Validation

:-In house by P.C. (processing cycle) clerks.

Verification of Exceptional report

:-In house by

Dy.Manager(F&A).
Processing of bills

:-In house at respective IT Centre.

Printing of bills

:-Through outsource Agency.

Bills Distribution

:- Through outsource Agency.

Issue of Duplicate Bills

:-In house by P.C. clerk.

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Billing Activities cont.

Proposed Billing System

Meter Reading

:-Through outsourced employees.

Data Punching

:- Through outsourced employees

Validation

:- Through outsourced employees

Verification of Exceptional report :-In house by Dy.Manager(F&A).

Processing of bills

:-In house at respective IT Centre.

Printing of bills

:- Through outsourced employees

Bills Distribution

:- Through outsourced employees

Issue of Duplicate Bills

:-In house by P.C. clerk.

The above outsourced employees will be working under the supervision of Dy.Manager (F&A),( Additional) and shall report to E.E.
concerned and others.

17

Billing Programme
Activities
Preparation of Billing Programme for the month

Ensuring cash tally of PC of previous bills

due date
Processing of Bills.

Rearrange the Consumers DTC wise, MRC

& PC wise.

Ensure that the due dates shall be spread

over the

month
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Billing Programme cont.

Ensuring cash tally of PC of previous bills
due date &

updatation of Master

Implement the concept of Any where payment as per Circular No. Dir (Finance)/MSEDCL/33831 dtd. 03.11.2010. It is necessary to have a centralize cash tally at Division level.

Immediately on expiry of due date, the cash tally shall be completed.

Master data file in respect of PC has to be handed over to reading agency after considering all basic data such as Meter changed, NSC,PD,PD reconnection, Change of Name, Change of address & all related corrections submitted to IT before issuing of PN33 & con.file to agency.
PN 33
Con. File

Previous reading
consumer master data

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Billing Programme cont.

Rearrange the consumer (Mapped) DTC wise MRC wise in
PCs if required to ensured following.
It should be ensured that no consumer of the DTC should
reflect in another route cycle.
Consumer on DTCs in One MRC to be read in a day
All consumers in one DTC shall be in One Route and
consumer as per physical sequence

20

Billing Programme cont.

Processing of Bill
Meter Reading
Reading

shall be arrange Consumer wise, DTC

wise ,MRC wise, PC wise.

The billing agencies should be insisted to provide
reading data and photo images of MRC 1 on next
day (without waiting for completion of entire PC) &
all the MRCs to be processed as above.
As per the directives of Director (Operations) all the
PCs of BUs should be processed & completed by
20th of the month.
21

Billing Programme cont.

Ensure that the due dates shall be
spread over the month
The billing programme shall be prepared for
the sub-division in such a manner that the
due dates of payment shall spread over the
month so that the cash flow would be through
out the month

22

LT Bill Validation
Preamble
The meter reading Agency has to take reading as per billing
Programme (MRC) given by the Sub Division office.
After completion of reading programme of the PC the agency
submits the Photo Meter reading data to Sub Division in
charge (B 30 & Photo Image File)
In order to facilitate timely validation the agency should be
insisted to give B-30 and photo image file for the day one
on next day (without waiting for completion of PC) to SubDivision for timely validation.

23

LT Bill Validation cont.

B 30 Validation
The concern PC clerk/Outsource Supervisor has to
confirm and ensure the total number of consumers being
billed is correct as compare to earlier monthly report
(DB57) and reading for total number of consumers
existing in the CD given to the agency.

Consumer having reading less than previous months

reading
Action to be taken by PC Clerk/Outsource Supervisor The PC clerk/outsource Supervisor has to see the image for
current month reading, Meter No. & cross checked the same
with image of previous month and found variation if any the
matter has to referred the section office & reading agency for
correctness . Further, it should also be confirmed that the
photo reading for the current month is taken for the correct
parameter i.e., KWH or otherwise. (Other Parameters such as
date, KW, KVA, KVH, PF etc.)
Reading 4 times greater than average reading (Average
24
of 6 months)

LT Bill Validation cont.

B 30 Validation

Meter digit less than current reading

To check the image & confirm the digits of meter and if the meter digits found

wrongly fed i.e. less than actual then B 45 for correction of meter digit to be

fed.

P.D. Consumer reading

This may be due to the consumer is P.D. as per the system but meter is in use.

Action to be taken by PC Clerk/Outsource Supervisor.

The PC Clerk/Outsource Supervisor has to call the reconnection report from the
Section Engineers
number & date of reconnection) and B 25
(Meter number and reading). If found the consumer is reconnected unauthorisely

having details such as name, meter details Arrears paid,

then action as per rules has to be taken.

reconnection charges paid and thereafter the P.D. consumers be converted into

Live by feeding of B - 10/3 (Consumer

Paid pending
The issue has to be taken up with the Section Engineer for NSC reports and on
receipt of the same B 34 / 25 register to
be updated. Or in respect of
e-connection CMA-02 (Meter details) should be obtained from Sectional Engineer.

25

LT Bill Validation cont.

B 30 Validation
Consumer

not

in

master

but

reading

available
The PC Clerk/Outsource Supervisor has to confirm
the correct PC number of the consumer whose
reading is made available by the Agency and
inform the concern PC holder of such reading.
Also inform the reading agency accordingly.
The related data should be collected from the
agency & submitted to SDOs for corrective
action.
All the errors in file of B 30 has to
26 be

Exceptional Report
Normal reading consumer :The consumers for whom the progressive reading
available and not included in other status.
Faulty Status consumer :The faulty status consumer are being billed on average
basis.
In case of no use consumers, the bills are issued on
average basis
under faulty status, in such cases on
receipt of request letter from
consumer for no use, the
no use status be fed and the consumer be converted
into normal status.
The status of such consumer should be got
verified from section office.
Meter actual faulty :To inform the Section Office to replace the meter so as
27
to
billed
the
consumers
as
per
correct

Exceptional Report cont.

Locked Consumers :-

If the locked status is observed since 2 billing cycle. The

list of such consumers be given to the Section Officer to shift
the meters at
readable place so as to read the consumer
regularly and
achieve normal billing. Failing which action
as per section 163 of the act shall be taken against the
consumer.
Meter Overflow :To check image & digits of meter & confirm correctness if
the
consumption is abnormally on higher side then check
the digit of the meter & correct the same by feeding B 45.
So as to avoid
abnormal billing, and inform section office
for replacement of meter.
Meter change :Meter replacement report to be collected from Section
Office & feed through B 19-25 , so as to avoid average
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Exceptional Report cont.

Meter Inaccessible :Reading in photo not visible & hence billing is
made on average basis. The actual reading can be
called through Section Office/Agency & billed
accordingly to avoid average billing. Even if, the
reading is not available due to meter burnt, the
meter should be replaced. Such status should not
appeared for more than 2 consecutive billing cycle.
Meter Missing :To obtain P.D. report from the Section & fed to B
09. In other cases the concern agency be insisted for
reading by giving exact location of the consumer &
so also asking for
reading from Section Office for
normal billing.
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Exceptional Report cont.

Reading not available :The issue to be taken up with the reading
agency/Section Office for making reading available.
Further the Section Office also asked to provide the
meter route cycle sequence to facilitate the reading
and update the correct route cycle sequence.
Zero consumption :To be taken up the Section for confirmation.
01 30 Consumption :To be taken up the Section for Correctness.
To check Credit Bills & abnormal bills for
its correctness.
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THANK YOU

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