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mPower is a web-enabled, online integrated IT application that uses state-of-the-art technologies to provide the entire spectrum of services that an electricity board or utility offers to its consumers, including connection management, billing, payments, grievance handling and theft monitoring.

With mPower, electricity boards and utilities can empower their customers to access information related to their bills, payments, arrears and the status of their applications from a kiosk / counter, or from web. They can get faster responses to queries and a quicker settlement of grievances.

mPower is a modular application software package, developed using open system, three-tier architecture. Its modules cater to various functional requirements of electricity boards.

Connection management module
This module handles applications filed by consumers for new connections and changes in connection details. It also captures customer-related information like consumer name, address, category, supply type, load sanctioned, etc. Other functionalities include disconnection, reconnection and misuse-related activities initiated by the electricity utility.

Types of applications:

	New connection (permanent / temporary)
	Temporary short-term connections
	Temporary long-term connections
	Change in name and billing address
	Change of tenancy
	Change in load / supply type

Additional functionalities:

	Demand note generation
	Tracking and updating application status regularly
	Sanctioning and verification

Metering module
This key module of the product forms the basis for billing. The functionalities handled by this module are:

	Addition / deletion of meters
	Book allotments
	Meter reader details
	Scheduling of books of readings
	Entry of meter readings
	Defective meter tracking
	Consumption pattern monitoring

Billing module
The billing module generates bills for energy and non-energy charges. The periodicity can be defined (monthly, bi-monthly, etc). Bills can also be generated for any ad-hoc period specified by the user. This module handles the following types of billing:

	Spot billing
	Regular billing
	Bulk billing for HT (high tension) consumers

Its other functionalities:

	Bills revision
	Instalment sanctioning
	Change in due date for bills pertaining to the current billing cycle
	Maintenance of inoperative accounts
	Court cases
	Special rebates
	Tariff maintenance

Payment module
This module looks after payment collection and revenue management. Cash collection may be made online or off-line. Online payments need to be verified by an authorised officer before they are posted into the database. In case of off-line counters without a direct link with the system, payments are collected manually and entered into the system later.

The module supports the following functionalities:

	Energy bill payments
	Non-energy bill payments
	Instalment payments
	Advance payments
	Partial payments
	Bounced cheque entry
	Bank slip generation
	Transfer of funds
	Sundry / miscellaneous payments
	Verification of posting of payments

Theft module
This module captures theft details. Its scope includes:

	Entry of provisional bill
	Generation of the final theft bill based on the parameters entered
	Details of raiding party
	Details of the premises raided

It also serves as a diary for court cases, giving details of the case:

	Case number
	Court name
	Brief description
	Complainant's name
	Counsel
	Next date of hearing
	Last date of hearing
	Remarks

Consumer grievances module
This module handles activities concerned with the tracking and redressal of applications related to public grievances. Complaints lodged by the consumer or applicant are entered into the system and tracked through various stages of investigation. The system facilitates the monitoring of complaints time and again, during the lifecycle of the complaint. A consumer can lodge a complaint in any of the following cases.

	Complaints related to applications like delay in processing, etc.
	Electricity fault
	Frequent electricity failure
	Voltage fluctuation
	Complaints related to other board services

Once the counter clerk enters the complaint, the system forwards it to the competent authority for action. The authority may take action and close the complaint or forward it to another official for action.

Security module
The system security mechanism has been built to protect the software from accidental access or intentional misuse, destruction or disclosure. Access to the system and data security is enforced at the operating system, database and application levels. This prevents unauthorised access to the database. The system only allows authorised officers to modify selected fields after verification and confirmation. This ensures data consistency and integrity.

System administration and utilities
The module covers the various masters required for proper system functioning and is common to all modules. It also has security information for the whole system:

	Common master data.
	Security: User maintenance, role maintenance, allocation of roles to users
	Backup and archival

Technical architecture, hardware and software platforms

Hardware: The recommended hardware configuration for mPower's smooth functioning has a cluster solution of two servers — a primary server and a secondary server. Both servers are connected through a 'heartbeat' to ensure that as one fails, the other automatically takes over.
Server configuration: The application software requires 1 GB RAM and an 18 GB hard disk as minimum configuration. Disk mirroring or RAID level 5 is also recommended.
Client configuration: The minimum requirement at the client side is a desktop computer (standard configuration), with an internet browser and connectivity.
Printers: Recommended printer configurations:
MIS reports for senior officials: Laser printer
Bulk bills: High-speed dot matrix printer (DMP)
Spot billing counters: Normal DMP (9-pin, 80 column)
Each client should have one DMP. At spot billing centres, at least one DMP should be kept as a spare for immediate replacement.
UPS: An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is essential for computers to run effectively. A UPS ensures the safety and reliability of the running applications and database.

Networking
The system has network interfaces to support communications over local and wide area links. TCP / IP is the network and transport protocol for both the local area networks (LAN) and the wide area network (WAN).

Digital leased circuits (preferably 64 kbps) are used as the backbone for the wide area network. End-user terminals are connected to the activity centres via LAN or WAN. The WAN media has digital leased circuits using intelligent devices (switches / routers).


System software
System software required for mPower:

Servers
Operating system (OS) for the database server	Unix
Relational database management system (RDBMS) for the database	Oracle 8i/9I
Internet application server (IAS)	Oracle 9I
Application software	mPower

 

Clients

Windows 98 / NT workstation

Internet browser

System layout
mPower operates online. All cash collection counters and application-receiving counters are directly linked to the main database server. This enables the consumer to interact with / access information from any location in the city. A consumer can submit an application at any of the application receiving counters spread across the city. To make a payment for any kind of bill, the consumer can approach any cash collecting counter.

Strengths

	It has a very user-friendly man-machine interface
	Any consumer of the utility can file all types of applications, make payments or get information from any counter of the electricity board, located anywhere in the city
	It provides for the automatic flow of applications / requests to the concerned authority
	It is developed using a modular and parameterised approach for easy maintenance
	It is based on online transaction processing
	The system provides a proper audit trail of activities like meter replacements, bounced cheques, load change, category change, billing address change, name change with arrears, meter reading, etc.
	mPower supports the integration of off-line transactions into the database
	The tariff structure is maintained in a modular system, to take care of any changes in tariff
	Data security is enforced at operating system, database and application level. This prevents unauthorised access to the database. However, database / system administrators can be given permission to maintain and secure database

Benefits
Benefit for users:

	Better accessibility to prompt and accurate information
	Ease of use

Benefits for consumers:

	Single window interface for all their needs
	Prompt response to consumer requests. This is possible owing to increased information availability for the board's officials, and online approvals

Benefits for management:

	'Anywhere, anytime' availability of updated, comprehensive and correct information
	Many queries and reports for improved monitoring and management

Experience
A core group is working at the CMC Delhi office, enhancing the features of the product.

Indicative client list

	Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd
	Delhi Vidyut Board

Case study
Centralised electricity billing system (CEBS) for the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL)

Contact
Head - eGov
CMC House
C-18, Bandra-Kurla Complex
Bandra (East)
Mumbai - 400 051
Tel: 022-26591000-2
Fax: 022-26591046
Email: egov@cmcltd.com