Online Bill Payment for Electricity

​Customers pay electricity bills at Trang Bom Electricity’s Transaction Office.

Currently, the rate of non-cash electricity bills in Dong Nai is 95%. Dong Nai PC aims to reach 100% of customers using electricity for online transactions by the end of this year.

95% of Online Payers

According to leaders of Dong Nai PC, to create favorable conditions for customers and improve service quality, Over the past time, the electricity industry has undergone many changes, including cooperation with banks and intermediaries for customers to pay electricity bills online. Up to now, Dong Nai PC is cooperating with 12 banks and intermediaries. Customers can pay for their electricity bills through banks (Collection/Payment Order, automatic debit, Internet/Mobile banking, Bank card, ATM transfer, Bank transaction office); through payment intermediaries (collection counters, e-wallets of collection agencies), Customer Care website; electricity collection points or transaction offices.

According to the electricity industry, the development of online payment services and collection of money through intermediaries brings benefits to both parties. Towards customers, there is the maximum reduction in travel time, proactive choice of time and payment method. Especially, automatic debit service will assist customers to pay on time even when they forget to pay or are away from home. In addition, customers can receive many benefits from intermediary organizations that coordinate to collect electricity bills such as: Discounts when paying with e-wallet, receiving gifts when paying at collection points, discounting when recharging mobile cards, accumulating points for receiving gifts when paying electricity bills. Towards electricity industry, they may also reduce its number of workers involved in collecting money, reduce errors, and have more conditions in customer service deployment.

In fact, the promotion of online transactions is being responded by many customers. As of the end of September this year, the rate of non-cash payment in Dong Nai is 95%, particularly in urban areas is 100%. In addition to developing electronic payment infrastructure, electricity services such as registration for installing new meters, changing contents of electricity purchase and sale contracts, payment of electricity bills, notification of electricity incidents are also applicable online services, which helps customers to use electricity conveniently and do it quickly anytime and anywhere when needed.

On-the-spot Electricity Payment to be stopped by the end of 2020

An online electricity bill payment application

According to the plan, by the end of 2020, Dong Nai PC will “erase” the form of home electricity payment according to the policy of Vietnam Electricity and the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 2545/QD-TTg approving scheme for development of non-cash payments in Vietnam 2016-2020.

“The current difficulty of the electricity industry is that in some remote and inaccessible areas, there are few collection points for banks and intermediaries; People in those places are not in the habit of making non-cash payments. However, we will try our best so that 100% of customers can reach online transaction” - said Dong Nai PC representative.

To accomplish the planned goals, the Power sector is strengthening the communication of non-cash payments on the mass media; coordinating with the authorities of communes and hamlets to inform customers who are people in rural areas about the time to stop collecting money at home; alternative payment channels, listing of fixed collection points at the electricity and communal People’s Committee. Along with that, the electricity sector also coordinates with banks and intermediaries to develop collection points in rural areas; diversify forms of electricity bill payment with the criteria of being fastest, safest and most convenient for customers.

According to the survey, the vast majority of customers are satisfied with online payment services. Ms. Luu Thi Huong (Tam Phuoc Ward, Bien Hoa City) said that every month, she receives electricity bill notices through applications: Zalo, Customer Care of Southern EVN on mobile phones. She has about 3-5 days to prepare money and choose the right payment channel. She chose to pay via internet banking mainly because of transparent information, absolutely accurate amount, and no fees. “From the day I switched to online payment, I no longer worry about paying late because there was a message reminding my debt”- Ms. Huong said.

It can be seen that the diversification of forms of payment and promoting online transactions through technology platforms has brought many benefits for both customers and the electricity industry.

Phan Anh