BCEL launches new system for payment of electricity bills
BCEL launches new system for payment of electricity bills
Vientiane residents who have an account with Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao (BCEL) can now pay their electricity bills through the bank's BPay service.
This means bank customers don't need to waste time going to pay their bills at various customer service outlets and no longer have to provide exact change in order to pay them.
The official launch of the BPay service was held in Vientiane on Tuesday. It was attended by the Deputy Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, Mr Sonexay Sithphasay, and officials from both the bank and Electricite du Laos (EDL).
Customers now have three ways to pay their electricity bills via BCEL: using a BCEL-UnionPay ATM card at any BCEL ATM nationwide; through an SMS by mobile phone; or transferring or depositing money into EDL's account branch or the BCEL Head Office.
“This BPay service is being utilised in different countries around the world, but this is a first for Laos,” BCEL Managing Director Mr Vankham Voravong said.
In September 2009, the bank appointed a technical committee to team up with the Vientiane Electricity Enterprise to conduct a feasibility study of this service.
“Both sides discussed this service many times and spent a long time looking at the benefits. Then we started testing the service with bank staff in March this year,” he said.
“We also organised a seminar for bank staff to increase their understanding about BPay products and how to provide the service for customers,” Mr Vankham said.
This service will save EDL time when it comes to receiving money from customers and transferring it to BCEL. BPay will help to ensure electricity bills are paid by customers directly into their EDL account.
“With this BPay service, there are still challenges because it is new and people are unfamiliar with it. So we have to cooperate closely with EDL in terms of providing information that is important to customers,” he added.
This service is an innovation for the development of society, Mr Vankham said, and is part of the bank's strategy to expand its products through new technology and better customer service.
He believes that the continuing cooperation will lead to further partnerships with other sectors, such as water supply.
“This service makes it easier for everyone and will soon be important for households, business units and companies when it comes to paying their electricity bills,” said EDL Managing Director, Mr Sisavath Thiravong.
At present, almost 80 percent of the Lao population uses electricity and he hopes this service will be expanded to the provinces.
vientiane times
