On Thursday May 2, the Mon State Hluttaw (Parliament) discussed a proposal to provide electric [meter] bills online or through a mobile app. U Aung Kyaw Thu, Hluttaw representative of Thaton Township Constituency (2) presented the proposal.
“This can help get rid of the burden for the public, who individually have to go to the office to pay the monthly electric bill. MCC [Myanmar Computer Co.,Ltd] used to collect the meter bill by going door-to-door. But now, MCC has stopped the service, and everyone now has to travel to pay the bill,” explained U Aung Kyaw Thu.
Residents have had to physically go to the meter bill office since March 31, when the MCC stopped it’s door-to-door service.
U Aung Kyaw Thu also pointed out that there were other matters of inconvenience between the public and electric power department due to an inadequate number of the staff at the electric power department. Complaints include poor customer service, over-calculations of the electric bill, and long traveling time to get to the office. MP U Aung Kyaw Thu stated that it’s necessary for the government and electric power department to take this matter into account for the public.
After the state government approves and implements the proposal, the number of staff, paperwork, and control room for electric bill verification can be reduced. Residents won’t have to pay for traveling to provide the bill, and will have an easier time making payments on time. In addition, an e-bill will prevent human-errors in the calculation of the electric/meter fee.
Hluttaw representative of Paung Township Constituency (2) U Zaw Zaw Htoo expressed support for the proposal, “Mobile Pay is available all across the country. It seems almost every household has mobiles. Everyone can check their electric bill. Payment reminders for the bill can be sent to prevent people from missing the deadline.”
