The pilot project introduced in Shah Jalal Upashahar in Sylhet city has become overwhelmingly successful. It has reduced system loss and increased PDB's revenue.

Many consumers in the area said they are free from hassles like alleged overbilling, waiting in long queues in banks for payment and fear of line snapping for outstanding bills. Some of them said their power bills are less now as they are more cautious.

The new system also holds a scope for lesser load shedding in the area than before, PDB (Power Development Board) officials said.

The pilot project was introduced in Shah Jalal Upashahar on February 22 this year at a cost of Tk 3.07 crore. Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, also lawmaker from Sylhet Sadar, inaugurated the project while State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud was also present.

This correspondent talked to a number of power consumers in the area yesterday. Zakaria Sadeque Chowdhury in Block B said it is hassle-free, good for consumers and the PDB.

"Consumption (of power) has also come down a little because of economic use", he added.

Anwarul Haque in Block D said, "Now I do not have to go to bank and stand in long queue for bill payment. It is a great relief as my time and money is saved.

" I just buy a card from the local PDB office. On the other hand, I can keep a limit on use of electricity. I hope this to continue", he added.

Now we buy prepaid cards and install in meters, said some other subscribers.

"I am now free from hassle. It saves time, energy and even money", said Dr. Mahfuzul Islam Chowdhury.

Some subscribers said the authorities should make arrangement for sale of prepaid cards on holidays also.

At PDB's prepaid card sale centre at Shahjalal Uposhohor, everything was nice and tidy. The noisy and crowded atmosphere in a typical government office was not seen during this correspondent's visit.

The subscribers just showed the staff their meter numbers and got the token/card on payment. Back home, they will easily punch the numbers on their meters.

A subscriber can also keep additional units on his meter, even before the existing units are exhausted, officials and customers there said.

Pre-Paid System Manager Abdul Quader said, there has been a very good response from subscribers since introduction of the system.

When contacted, Ratan Kumar Shaha, Executive Engineer, Sylhet Division-II said, "We are happy with the positive response from subscribers"

PDB supplied these imported meters under this pilot project free of cost.

Moreover, subscribers are given two per cent rebate on power tariff. On the other hand, there is no system of minimum billing for 'zero' use, he said.

"No use no payment system has been established".

There is no scope to manipulate meter reading and use one token for another meter.

Subscribers control everything and our men do not have move house to house to prepare bills now.

Duplicate token is issued to a subscriber if his token is lost.

The Vending Counter remains open from 9 am to 3 pm on all working days to sell token.

The Executive Engineer said, PDB had started the pilot project with an initial target to cover 2400 subscribers. At the beginning, 271 subscribers were enrolled in January. The number is 2420 now.

To meet the growing demand, we have requested for supply of another 200 meters immediately. "We need much more", he noted happily.

He said PDB has a plan to extend the facility to adjacent Sobhanighat, Ambarkhana, Station Road and other areas after covering the whole of Shahjalal Uposhohor.

The Executive Engineer said PDB is also gainer with introduction of the system. System loss has decreased by 10 percent and revenue earning has increases by 34 per cent in Shahjalal Uposhohor area.

Only three women employees and one Sub Assistant Engineer are maintaining the Vending Centre.