Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) troubles are not seeming to stop, on the other hand the department has announced a new risky journey to appoint a new single RMS (Billing System) vendor for the entire state. Which is constantly trying to push this new new single RMS (Billing System) despite many unsuccessful attempts.
Let us tell you that about a decade ago, the central government gave a grant to set up billing software in urban areas. This software is used by about 70 lakh consumers in urban UP. In the second phase of installation, another billing software was installed in rural UP areas in which out of 3 crores, the rest around 2.25 crores, consumers are using this system. It took 4 to 5 years for Uttar Pradesh to establish the present system.
While UPPCL is planning to introduce a new billing system; This can be a disastrous move because large utility billing systems often involve high risks of process transitions, functional delays, and a substantial loss of productivity and profitability. This new arrangement can also be seen as futility as there are many other issues that need to be addressed rather than replace the billing software. Whereas it may take a toll on the successes, achievements and good practices of the state government in times of pandemic and may create more doubts in the mind of the consumer. As per the documents available in the public domain, earlier the tender was canceled twice due to several unknown reasons.
There are three bidders in the new tender document now under consideration and it is certified that one out of these three bidders is liable to be disqualified due to serious deficiencies in the tender criteria. Two of these bidders claimed to have used the same project experience to qualify the bid. Which in itself is a controversial issue. On the other hand, despite the previous unsuccessful attempts of UPPCL and to avoid this humiliation again, it is now trying to choose one of these three bidders, however. This conduct and baseless decision of the department may adversely affect the image of the government, which may change the reputation of the clean leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh especially for the electoral state.
This is the third time during the last two years that UPPCL is trying to implement integrated RMS. The earlier points were rejected for some valid reason. Some logical reasons were given for ending this process. If this RFP is awarded to a bidder at this point in time, it will take around 2-3 years to complete the implementation and verification of the process and another 2-3 years to stabilize the system. This can be seen as a waste of time and resources as it covers the urban and rural areas of the entire UP. The already installed systems are working efficiently as per the conditions stipulated by UPPCL and the existing system will not cause any inconvenience to the consumers.
Just as the previous RMS system took years to set up, the new RMS would also take a long time to implement. This may be inconvenient for the consumers and UPPCL; And will not show any new result except waste of manpower and money. But an attempt to replace the entire revenue system/billing system can happen especially when elections are around the corner.
This can also prove to be a big setback for the government. This may also adversely affect the revenue generation of the department. Consumers who are already fed up with the fault in the smart meter may also have to face a new unknown problem. The three bidders are also clearly not qualifying and this can lead to a number of problems that may affect the tendering with the eligibility criteria and validity. All the bidders have some major flaws and gaps which may create problems in awarding the tender and in turn create many disputes for UPPCL and the bidders. Second, why is it so important to implement it now? We are facing a pandemic and a major economic crisis.
Apart from changing the revenue system, there are many problems. And the revenue system also does not seem to have any problem with this, so why is UPPCL focusing on providing a solution to something which is not a problem at all. The revenue management system does not require any reforms. Why is UPPCL so focused on implementing a single revenue system for the whole of UP? Why still? It all seems politically motivated and aimed at creating a high-profile scam… What is stopping UPPCL from canceling the bid when there are issues with all three vendors and the vendors are likely to cause major problems? UPPCL is known for the scam where the corporation illegally invested the PF of its employees in a Mumbai based private company as fixed deposits. The track record of UPPCL does not have a good impact.
In the year 2018, the nodal agency of the Central Government in the Ministry of Power, Government of India signed a contract with Uttar Pradesh to implement the Smart Meter Project for 40 lakh households in urban Uttar Pradesh. like urban
