New Delhi: North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) has achieved the top position across the country. The All India Discom Association (AIDA) has honored NBPDCL with a Gold Award for “Improvement in Consumer Satisfaction in Digital Payments.” During the Electricity Distribution Industry Conference (EDICON) 2026 held in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Union Power Minister Manohar Lal presented the award to Energy Secretary and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Bihar State Power Distribution Company Limited, Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS).
On this occasion, the Honorable Union Minister appreciated the efforts of Bihar’s Energy Department for the remarkable reduction in AT&C losses and improvement in the financial condition of distribution companies. He said that power distribution companies are the most important medium for delivering services to citizens, therefore consumer satisfaction and digital services should be given the highest priority.
While addressing the session on “Effective Use of Smart Meters and Data Analysis” during the conference, the Energy Secretary said, “Smart meters can be used not only for revenue collection but also for strengthening operational efficiency and providing better services to consumers through analysis of the data obtained from them.” Speaking about the extensive installation of smart meters in the state, he said, “In 2023, under the strong political leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the process of installing pre-paid smart meters was initiated in Bihar. In 2021, both distribution companies in the state were operating at a loss, but due to the commitment to provide uninterrupted, quality power supply to electricity consumers, smart meter installation, improvement in digital payments, and better service delivery, within two years, in 2025, both companies recorded profits.”
The Energy Secretary informed that an integrated portal will soon be developed in the state to analyze data collected from smart meters, with a target set to reduce AT&C losses to 10 percent in the coming years.
Expressing happiness at the company being awarded at the national level, Managing Director Rahul Kumar (IAS) said, “This achievement of NBPDCL reflects Bihar’s commitment to digital empowerment, transparency, and consumer-centric services. This award is not only recognition of the company’s excellent work but also a symbol of better, simpler, and more reliable service for all electricity consumers in Bihar.”
It is noteworthy that NBPDCL provides electricity services to approximately 1.34 crore (13.4 million) consumers in Bihar, of which about 85 percent are rural. The company has developed an inclusive, multi-channel digital payment ecosystem to enhance consumer convenience and satisfaction, which includes Bharat Bill Payment System banks, Vasudhā Centers, mobile phones, various payment gateways, and e-wallet-based door-step payment systems. This has facilitated electricity consumers in making online payments without any hassle. The installation of smart prepaid meters has strengthened the digital payment system. As a result, more than 95 percent of prepaid charges began being collected through digital means. Consumer incentives, awareness campaigns, and automated reconciliation systems have further streamlined this process, leading to increased transparency, reduced queues, and a remarkable increase in rural consumer satisfaction.
