Vodafone M-Pesa extends electricity payment feature for Punjab subscribers

NEW DELHI: India’s popular network service provider Vodafone’s digital wallet service M-Pesa has partnered with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), offering millions of people in Punjab a simple, easy-to-use option to pay their electricity bills instantly. Vodafone M-Pesa offers customers a cashless, secure platform for electricity bill payments with the largest network of agents (or CashIn Points) to enable digitization of money for Cash holding population.

Vodafone says that the company has more than 3000+ outlets (or CashIn Points) including Vodafone Company owned stores, franchisees, and multi brand outlets in Punjab. These CashIn Points provide convenience and ease to Customers to convert cash into digital money facilitating digital payment of Bills and e-commerce /m-Commerce. The bill payment touch points are easily available at every nook and corner, including all 31 Vodafone brand stores in Punjab.

Inviting the residents of Punjab to reap the benefit of instant electricity bill payment on the go through Vodafone M-Pesa, Arvind Vohra, Operations Director - Vodafone India said, “It has been our constant endeavor to deliver and bring innovative and simplified service offerings relevant to the needs of our customers. Vodafone M-Pesa partnership with the PSPCL is one such initiative that bridges the need for a simple, timely and cashless electricity bill payment solution through the mobile phone.”

Customers across various segments can access M-Pesa on either a smart phone by downloading the M-Pesa App or by dialing a USSD short-code (*400#) from any phone including any feature phone. This facility, says Vodafone, is aimed at driving financial inclusion further along with providing the State Elec tricity Board subscribers in Punjab the benefit and comfort of making payments instantly. As an added benefit, new users of M-Pesa can earn 5% cashback on the payment made through the App (cashback of maximum Rs 50 each month for a period of 3 months).

Elaborating further on the service, Suresh Sethi, Business Head, M-Pesa, Vodafone India said, “We are delighted to facilitate payments via M-Pesa (mobile wallet), safe, fast and convenient way of bringing bank to the mobile. With this facility, customers now have an access to multiple touch points for electricity bill payments in a simple and hassle free manner. From process automation to instant and secure transaction, we are confident M-Pesa will bring transformational benefits to the people in Punjab and further drive financial inclusion in the state.”