Patna, Aug. 24: Consumers can pay the electricity bills, if they have not received the current ones, on the basis of the average of the amount of the past three months.

Palka Sahni, the managing director of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd, made the announcement on August 20.

The move would allow 18 lakh consumers in 17 districts to pay their bills by making an assessment of the average of the bill of the past three months if they have failed to receive current bills.

The power company has earlier received several complaints from the consumers about not receiving energy bills on time.

Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd deputy general manager (public relations) H.R. Pandey said: “The move would let the consumers pay for their bills even if they have not received their current bill. Therefore, the consumers need not pay for delayed payment surcharge (interest charged on arrears) and the distribution company would also get the revenue timely.”

“If the consumers deposit excess amount, the amount would be adjusted in the next bill. Similarly, if they deposit deficit amount, they would be charged for the same in the next bill,” Pandey said.

Those who want to pay online, can do so by visiting the website of the power company www.sbpdcl.co.in, which was inaugurated by energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav on August 20.

Till now, the consumers have been availing the facilities through the website of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd ( www.bsphcl.nic.in).

The distribution company has also introduced know your customer (KYC) scheme to create a database of its consumers and alert them about its various facilities through text messages or emails.

Under the know your customer (KYC) scheme, the consumers have to furnish details like name, address, cellphone number, e-mail ID, consumer ID and others.

The consumers who will furnish all the details along with an application to the assistant engineer’s office of their respective areas by September 30 would get a discount of Rs 30 in the next energy bill.

“This incentive would be a one-time affair and is expected to motivate more people to furnish details to the office of the distribution company,” sources said.

Pandey said this effort would also help the company to establish a direct relationship with its consumers.