PDD’s online payment app dysfunction leads to billing chaos among consumers

Jammu, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) has recently begun issuing hard copies of power bills to consumers in the smart metered areas after a lapse of around one year, owing to technical issues with the department’s online payment mode.
This sudden shift has left consumers bewildered. Until now, residents in the smart metered areas of J&K had been conveniently paying their power bills online for approximately a year.
However, the current scenario has left consumers in a dilemma. The hard copies of power bills being distributed are not updated, often showing inflated amounts that do not align with the online payments made by consumers.
Superintendent Engineer (SE), Karam Chand, acknowledged the issue, stating, “There is a problem in many Smart Metered areas, and we are working to resolve it.”
These smart metered areas have now transitioned to a prepaid mode, akin to mobile phones, where consumers recharge instead of receiving bills.
Consumers in these areas are required to pay their power dues using the official app ‘JKPDD Smart Meter BS’ online. However, the app has been non-functional for over a month due to technical server errors, leading to confusion among consumers.
Despite consumers making online payments, the app fails to reflect updated pending dues, resulting in discrepancies between online payments and hard-copy bills.
The situation has left consumers feeling harassed and uncertain about the payment of their power bills. With no clear indication from the department regarding disconnection or alternative payment methods, confusion prevails among consumers.
Those whose bills have inflated due to the malfunctioning app are particularly anxious about potential disconnections, as they remain uncertain about the payment of their dues.