PANJIM: The Electricity Department has launched a WhatsApp number urging the consumers to post photographs of their meters’ reading in a bid to prevent its meter readers from travelling at the time of lockdown.
“As per the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) guidelines under the scope of Relief Order dated April 10, 2020, the consumers are given the option to provide the meter reading via WhatsApp or SMS. In view of this, the Department has activated a WhatsApp number (+91) 79729 80575 on which, all consumers, having installations within the State of Goa, can post a scan/photo of their meter reading, indicating the figures displayed on the meter LCD display specific to kilowatt-hour (KWH),” reads a press statement.
The Department said that the scan should include details of the meter as well. “The consumer should post the scan indicating the CA No, and location with name as per bill. The consumer should however, arrange to provide the meter reading as described above, every first week of the succeeding month. The Department authorities, after verification, would thereafter, decide to consider the same for bill generation, accordingly,” it said.
Civic and consumer forum GOACAN has welcomed the quick action by Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) Raghuvir Keni on implementing the JERC Relief Order.
“The Electricity Department has provided the much awaited relief during the extended lockdown period. GOACAN under its Consumer Literacy Campaign will mobilise volunteers of consumer forums and consumer welfare clubs to guide senior citizens to send their domestic meter reading on WhatsApp as per the format from April 20, 2020,” GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins said.
