Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 3: The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) has put out its latest mobile billing application, ‘Bill Sahuliyat Plus,’ and is gathering consumer feedback to further enhance its functionality.
Officials told ‘Excelsior’ that the mobile application, developed over the past several months, is now available for both Android and iOS users with improved and enhanced features.
“The application is live on the Play Store and App Store, and we are currently collecting feedback from consumers using it,” officials said.
In October last year, the beta version of the app was ready and undergoing testing and it was stated that once the payment interface was integrated, the app would be made available for public use.
The app was officially released on the Play Store on January 28, after integration of the key component and thorough testing.
Aiming to improve user experience, the app features an upgraded interface and provides real-time smart meter data, accessible on both Android and iOS platforms.
The redesigned billing application also features a chatbot, ‘Bill Sahayak,’ which will respond to consumer queries related to electricity services through a smart chat system, available anytime and anywhere.
Additionally, the app includes round-the-clock helpline support, allowing consumers to dial 1912 or 1800180766 for assistance.
Officials noted that previously, iOS users had to access their smart meter accounts via a web link, as the earlier billing application released by KPDCL was unavailable for them.
They added that this new application is now available on both platforms for seamless use.
According to the app’s description on the Play Store, where it has been downloaded more than 500 times so far, users can add multiple Consumer IDs to a single BS Plus account using their Consumer ID and installation number.
The app also provides data related to Solar Rooftop systems, including details of exported, imported, and net units.
Consumers can make payments using various gateways, including UPI, credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets.
Additionally, the app enables consumers to access online services such as new connections, name changes, and category changes.
Interestingly, the KPDCL has also commissioned the Unified (Electricity) Billing System (UBS) on the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), with a data center in Mumbai and a disaster recovery center in Hyderabad.
The system consolidates all consumers onto a unified database and billing platform.
The UBS enhances operational efficiency by enabling practical analytics of metering, billing, and collections, officials said.
It also improves data accuracy and reliability through enhanced validation and synchronization protocols while ensuring compliance with regional data governance standards.
As reported by Excelsior in October last year, when 80 percent of the work was completed, KPDCL aimed to shift all consumers to a common billing platform on Oracle Utilities by December 2024.
According to officials, the UBS includes specialized solutions for various energy and utility billing needs, including metered, net-metered, pre-paid, and dynamic tariff options.
It also offers property management functions such as cost allocation, fees, and taxes, along with API integration for seamless connectivity with other systems.
The system is compatible with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), allows customization and additional functionalities, and provides 24/7 support for system setup and maintenance.
Notably, KPDCL serves approximately 12.10 lakh consumers across various categories through 67 billing centers in the Kashmir region, covering geographically defined circles, divisions and subdivisions.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
