LESCO to add customers’ cellular phone numbers in bills

LAHORE – The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has decided to add cellular phone numbers of consumers in electricity bills, Pakistan Today has learnt. The move will help the company to compile data of consumers and serve them efficiently. The consumers will be informed about their complaints’ status through cellular phone numbers. LESCO meter readers have started collecting mobile numbers of consumers and during meter reading they will ask every consumer about mobile numbers so that it could be added in the system and printed on bills.
“We have been instructed to knock the door of every home when we take the monthly meter reading and write them in the meter reading book,” meter reader Muhammad Shafiq said adding that the data will be given to the computer section for adding it in the record and printing on electricity bills. A LESCO official said that the move will help the company to maintain record of consumers and they will be facilitated through their mobiles. “If any consumer registers a complaint then he will be intimated through his mobile about the status of the complaint,” the official said adding that more consumer-friendly steps will be taken through the service. “In the next step, consumers will be intimated about their monthly bills through mobiles,” he added.
He said that the purpose of the move is to serve the consumers. In the past, LESCO had given special attention to consumer-friendly system. The process of paying bills through ATMs and phone banking has facilitated the consumers a lot. Around six years ago, consumers had to wait in long queues to pay bills but now they can avail many services for paying bills. “It is also an initiative of the company to inform consumers about their utility bills through mobile,” the official said adding that often consumers complain that they did not receive bills in time but with this service, as soon as the bill is generated, people will be intimated about their current month’s bill.
LESCO has already added the numbers of sub-divisional officers (SDO) and XENs of the relevant sub divisions in the bills to facilitate consumers. Consumers welcomed the decision saying it will ease their lives. They said that other utility departments should also take such steps. “Although many departments offer service of paying bills through online banking but they should also introduce this service,” consumer Sameer Ahmed said.