Patna: The Bihar Energy Department has announced a series of incentives to encourage electricity consumers to pay their bills on time and make full use of smart prepaid meters. Officials say these steps will help both the consumers and the power system by reducing delays, improving efficiency and ensuring a smoother supply of electricity across the state.
According to the department, smart meter users are now receiving a discount of 25 paise per unit on their energy charges. The department also says that consumers who keep more than Rs 2,000 in their smart prepaid meter for three consecutive months will receive interest based on the bank rate set by the Reserve Bank of India. If the balance stays above Rs 3,000 for the same period, the financial benefits become even greater.
In addition to these rewards, the Energy Department is offering discounts for timely bill payments. Consumers who pay their electricity bills on time will get a 1.5% discount, while those who make online payments will receive an extra 1% discount. Rural households have also been given special attention: if they pay all their bills for a quarter on time, they will get an additional 1% discount.
Senior Engineer Niraj Kumar said the easiest way for consumers to manage their smart prepaid meters is through mobile apps. With the “Suvidha App”, consumers can recharge their meters from home and check their electricity usage and balance at any time. He said this not only saves time but also encourages people to shift to digital payments. The department has appealed to more consumers to adopt smart meters, saying that timely payments will make the power supply more stable and help families save money.
