Events

28th April 2008

Commemoration & Completion of Project BEST

 The Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board (TNEB) has become the first State Electricity Board in the country to successfully complete 100 % computerization of its collection centres. The BEST project (Billing of Energy Services by TNEB), a part of its E-Governance initiative, has provided  customers an easy and accessible payment channel for settlement of energy bills.  The Chennai-based Gemini Communication Ltd (GCL) , is the proud technology partner of this project, which was completed in two phases. 

Delivering the Special Address at the Commemoration, Thiru S. Machendranathan, IAS, Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board said, “TNEB has constantly up graded the quality of services and has been striving to ease out the hardships faced by consumers by harnessing E governance services.  Project Best – Billing of Energy Services by TNEB is an unique initiative in this direction. TNEB has achieved the rare distinction of being the first State Electricity Board to computerize all its collection centres. Customers can now pay their electricity bills in any of the 1725 collection centres spread across the State by just quoting their Electricity Account number. TNEB looks forward to introducing such customer friendly initiatives, which will enable the customer easier and convenient access to our various services. Our Technology partner, Gemini Communication Ltd, has provided cost effective and innovative infrastructure enabling quick completion of the project.”

“Project  BEST is a landmark project for our company and we feel proud to have been a part of this prestigious project. We thank TNEB for rendering their support during the implementation process. This project has resulted in substantial cost savings for TNEB besides providing the customer easy and convenient mode of bill payment due to innovative technologies deployed” Mr R Vijaykumar, Chairman, Gemini Communication said in his opening remarks

With the implementation of this project, consumers can now pay their electricity bills at any of 1725 collection centres of TNEB in their circle. The initiative is expected to benefit over 17.5 million LT consumers. The Customers have been assigned a 10 digit code number so that their accounts can be accessed through the computer network at any of the collection centres he added.

Gemini Communication Ltd. did the first phase for about 456 Collection centers spread across 9 regions and the order value was to the tune of Rs.50 crores. The tender for second phase of the project involved 8 regions catering to 1725 collection centres. It is note worthy to mention that GCL was the least bidder in all the 8 regions that had come out with the tender valuing Rs.75 crores.

 Gemini's proposed solution is based on 95% wireless and 5 % leased lines. The remote rural office of TNEB will be connected to a circle office and the circle office will be connected to the Regional office. In the first phase, GCL had already deployed the servers and storage products for this network and hence the data that is being typed in at the remote rural office will automatically be saved in the server of the Regional office.

In his Closing Remarks, Mr R Ramkumar stated that Gemini’s other major e governance and telecom projects  for BSNL, Huawei, Ericcson, ITI and Tata  Communications.