The Tamil Nadu Government plans to expand the Any Time Payment Machine (ATPM) scheme for payment of electricity bills to more centres across the State.
“We had planned for 100 ATPMs. Of the 100, we have already installed 24 ATPMs and work towards installing 76 ATPMs is being done,” Electricity Minister Natham R. Viswanathan said in the Assembly, while replying to a question.
Works towards installing ATPMs in Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli and Vellore are in progress, he said, adding that Thillai Ganga Nagar, Besant Nagar and Velachery sub-stations in Chennai would also have ATPMs in three to five months.
Over 32,000 beneficiaries, who constitute 14 per cent of the total number of consumers, are already using the ATPM option for bill payment across the State, he said, replying to a question by Velachery legislator M.K. Ashok.
The Electricity Department already has contractual agreement with 18 banks for online transaction of power bills, while other options like cellphones and post offices are also available for bill payment, the Minister said.