Patna, Sept. 12: Power supply, billing and maintenance in Muzaffarpur is set to improve after Mumbai-based Essel Adi Smart Grid Solutions Ltd takes over the distribution work from October 1.

The company was selected as the distribution franchisee for the commercial hub of north Bihar in March through bidding after Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd floated tenders.

“The job of the distribution franchisee would be formally handed over to Essel from October 1. We expect the energy supply to improve in the biggest city of north Bihar and hope customers get better facilities,” said North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (NBPDCL) managing director, Sanjay Kumar Agrawal.

Agrawal said NBPDCL would help Essel officials to ensure a smooth takeover.

“We (NBPDCL) will assist officials and employees of the private firm for the next two months as part of a hand-holding measure. Our officials would help their employees to understand the system and work accordingly. Essel officials have started consulting our employees to study the system,” he said.

The appointment of the franchisee is expected to improve power supply. Maintenance of electric lines, power sub-stations and transformers would be carried out as well. At present, NBPDCL looks after the maintenance work.

The franchisee’s job would also be to distribute bills, take down meter readings, collect revenue, maintain low-tension lines, attend fuse-off calls and others.

On when the supply would be improved, NBPDCL officials said several procedures would have to be followed before starting the work and it would take three-four months to streamline the system.

On October 22, 2012, the Bihar State Electricity Board had issued tenders for appointment of distribution franchisees for Patna, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Gaya.