Patna, Oct. 17: Electricity bill queues are set to disappear from the power board cash offices in the state capital. Country’s biggest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), would soon accept payment of electricity bills through its netbanking systems and ATMs in the state capital.

Even those who do not have an SBI account would be able to pay their bills through the SBI ATMs. The service, which is expected to start from January 2012, would provide much-needed relief to around 3.25 lakh consumers under the jurisdiction of Patna Electric Supply Undertaking, which has been entrusted with the job to supply power to the state capital.

“Bihar State Electricity Board recently gave us the letter of intent to start the utility service for accepting electricity bills through our netbanking and ATMs,” said SBI chief general manager, Patna circle, Jeevandas Narayan.

“We are also expanding our network of ATMs in the state capital so that power consumers can utilise our services through the ATM booths in their vicinity.”

SBI’s deputy general manager Y.K. Lumba told The Telegraph: “We have designed a software through which a customer can transfer his/her bill to the board’s account through the ATM or netbanking account. The money would be instantly transferred to the board’s account.”