CESC Ltd is one of the pioneers in effective computerisation of its Electricity Billing & Revenue Collection system. The computerisation took place way back on 1977 and is successfully continuing till date without any hindrance, continuously accommodating evolving technology upgrades and embracing the need of ongoing change in business policies under regulatory framework. The present system developed in house based on our enriched domain knowledge of the industry nuances caters to the monthly billing of more than 17 lacs consumers covering almost 20 lacs meters within a definitive time span. The billing, collection and realisation activities are well conceived in our system which can be summarised through following check points –

F     Timely and accurate collection of meter reading data

F     Validation and Compilation of meter reading data using statistical techniques

F     Comprehensive Bill Generation after thorough processing with logical checks and inbuilt error corrections

F     Maintaining Timeliness of Billing Cycles

F     Monitoring and Economic Despatch of bills

F     Generation of Disconnection Notice cum Bills for Defaulters

F     Payment Matching and Reconcilition

The billing process commenced from capturing the meter reading data, often using Meter Reading Instruments, ensuring online / batch validation against historical consumption pattern and available dynamic information, incorporating business decisions as and when necessary, accepting the payment for matching using state-of-the-art Point Of Collection machines, keeping track of realisable outstanding dues, monitoring of disconnection activities, extending credit control functions and to the printing of bills in hard copy and  electronic presentment of bills in our website.

The entire gamut of the billing system encompasses allocation of job to the meter readers (for reading, inspection or cutting off the meters), keeping track of billing of each meter, exchange of defective meter, generation of MIS for financial consolidation of accounts and tariff related requirements to the consumer support system operational at our regional offices located at different places within our command area. The system successfully traverse to the total life cycle of a consumer in a seamless manner without much human intervention.

The billing system with an effective interface from new consumer application processing system (will be explained later) receives billing data for new consumers and billing data for existing consumers are received from meter reading. The billing system can be subdivided into i) billing cycle, ii) payment collection and matching, and iii) consumer life cycle. The regular and exceptional MIS generated from the system at central location and regional offices enable, inter alia, much needed information on meter exchange by carefully analysing the meter reading data with past trends of consumption. This unique feature helps utility in better revenue realisation by ensuring prompt replacement of defective meters. A representative list of MIS is given below :

·         Meters not billed

·         Billing Statistics(Revenue vs Sales)

·         Inconsistent Meter Code and/or Meter Number

·         Meters and/or Consumers dropped from billing cycle

·         Rebate allowed and Rebate forfeited

·         Absence of Meter reading data

·          Variance in Load Factor, Power Factor, MDI at consumer premises

·         Violations of permitted/restricted off take

·         Consumers billed on average

·         Area-wise/ Industry-wise load planning statistics

·         Dues of Government and Public Bodies

·         Analysis (age-wise, amount-wise, consumer-wise) of outstanding dues and debtor management

·         Revenue Collection against Billing Amount

·         Pattern analysis of Notice Bills

·         Monitoring of Returned Cheques

·         Monitoring of Instalment Payments

·         Meters awaiting Exchange

·         Consumers under Surveillance

·         Monitoring of Additional Security Deposit

As a demonstration of the robustness and efficacy of our billing system with associated domain knowledge, CESC thru its subsidiary CESCON, has successfully analysed, developed and implemented the proven billing system at various SEBs and Power Boards in the country where it is running smoothly till date.