Gaya, Feb. 24: Power consumers, who have complaints regarding delayed delivery of electricity bills, now have reasons to be happy.

Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) Magadh Area Board has changed its service provider engaged in electric meter reading and door-to-door bill distribution to ensure timely bill to consumers.

In January 2011, Infosoft, a private company, was given the contract for generating electric bills, reading meters and distributing ready bills.

However, following complaints by consumers regarding delay in distribution of the bills, another company, G4S, has now been given the contract from February this year.

BSEB, Gaya circle general manager, Om Prakash told The Telegraph that the service provider was changed following complaints by the consumers for delay in bill distribution.

However, the responsibility for bill generation is still with Infosoft, as there was no complaint regarding this work.

A fixed deadline has been issued to both the companies involved in bill generation, meter reading and bill distribution. According to the new system, Infosoft will prepare a meter reading sheet on the first day of every month and hand over it to G4S.

The employees of G4S appointed for meter reading and bill distribution will move in the field with the sheet. The employees will fill up the reading shown on the electric meter and also get the signature of the consumer on the sheet.

The filled up sheet will be made available to Infosoft for bill generation by the 10th of every month. By the 14th of every month, the bills will be made available to G4S through BSEB for door-to-door distribution among consumers. The bills will also be uploaded on the Internet, the general manager said.

G4S Gaya circle in-charge Umashankar Sao told The Telegraph that the company has undertaken the work of meter reading and bill distribution of Magadh area board from February 14.

The Magadh area board comprises two circles and nine divisions.

In Gaya circle, there are six divisions, including Gaya urban and rural, Jehanabad, Nawada, Sherghati and Aurangabad. In Sasaram circle, there are three divisions, including Dehri, Sasaram and Kudra.

In the six divisions of Gaya circle, 63 personnel have been appointed by G4S for meter reading and bill distribution.

According to plan, one employee has to be deputed for every 2,000 consumers on an average and more appointments will be made, G4S Gaya circle superintendent Ramakant Sharma told The Telegraph.

Gaya urban area has around 42,000 consumers and 24 personnel have been deputed there. The company has issued identity cards to its employees, Umashankar said and added that the consumers should not allow anyone without identity cards to take meter readings.

BSEB BSEB) Magadh Area Board has changed its service provider regarding meter reading and door-to-door bill distribution

In January 2011, Infosoft was given contract for bill generation, meter reading and distribution of bills

Following complaints by consumers regarding delay in bill distribution, G4S has now been given contract

Responsibility of bill generation is still with Infosoft

G4S employees would take meter reading and consumers will sign documents

Documents will be sent to Infosoft for bill generation

Bills will be made available to G4S through BSEB for door-to-door distribution