KSEB's news

As part of its strategy to introduce IT-enabled services and operations, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is getting ready to launch a new-look web site which, board officials say, will act as a gateway for serving customers. The web site promises services such as online bill payment, bill view and print, complaint registration and tracking and search to locate contact persons and offices in the hierarchy with addresses, phone numbers and e-mail ids, a board official told The Hindu.

A calendar of important events and news of tenders and orders will also be posted on www.kseb.in.

The web site has been developed on a free-and-open-source-software (FOSS) platform by the information technology wing of the board in Kozhikode. While the open source solution Joomla has been used for its content management system, the programming language is PHP and the database software, MySQL, all FOSS solutions.

The web site will enable consumers of low-tension power in model sections to view and print their latest power bills. Those in the high- and extra-high-tension categories can also make online payments — in three months. Once the records of domestic consumers are computerised, the online bill payment system will be available to all.

Those wishing to plan their power consumption or crosscheck their power bills can use the “LT tariff calculator” on the web site. The consumer can arrive at his or her power bill by entering the consumption level and tariff. The consumption levels can also be calculated.

The public can use the web site to e-mail complaints about power theft to the board's vigilance wing, headed by an Inspector-General of Police. They can download tenders and application forms and get details of the latest tariff structure, answers to FAQs (frequently asked questions) and meter-testing facilities.

A committee constituted by the board has held discussions with major stakeholders before finalising the design of the web site, which will be hosted at the State Data Centre, Thiruvanan- thapuram.