60,000 consumers get faulty power bills due to software error

Panaji, Feb 22 (PTI) An error in the software employed bythe Goa Electricity department here has left around 60,000consumers in lurch after it generated faulty bills.

State power minister Aleixo Sequeira conceded that theerror has affected several consumers here following which theelectricity department has decided to scrap its contract withthe provider software firm.

He said the software was provided to them bythe Information Technology department, which had procured itfrom a private firm.

The error led to exorbitant power bills and in some casesshowed zero bill amount.

"We are totally unhappy with the services of the companywhich has provided the software," Sequeira said.

The power department is perturbed as the software companyand Information technology department officials have refusedto co-operate with them on rectifying the issue.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to consumers,"the minister said adding the department will now opt for on-the-spot billing.

Sequeira said the department has introduced on the spotbilling in his own constituency at Loutolim and it will besoon introduced in rest of the state.

"There will be no billing arrears and faults once billsare generated on-the-spot," he said.