ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Starting at the end of this month, Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) customers will begin to notice changes in the billing process as the company begins implementing a new system geared at improved customer service.
Revenue Assurance Analyst and Brand Ambassador Kerry Gore yesterday, on state-owned media, said the new system will record telecoms service consumption, including landline telephone, imobile and INET, on a single compounded bill for each customer. Water and electricity will still be billed separately.
“You can no longer come in and say you wish to pay the INET portion; you can make a payment on the account but it is one balance. We are encouraging persons to come in and leave their email address (for their) imobile cellphone so we can link it to account so we can notify you not only for our promotions, but updates on your balances or disconnection warnings in advance,” Gore said.
She said the move to the converged billing system is part of a going green initiative.
“Whereas before you were getting one bill for your (land) line service, one for your INET and another for your post bill imobile, three in total, now it will be less paper for us and less paper for the consumer. It will be one bill but the different charges will be itemised,” Gore said.
The system will also allow for bundled discounts.
The fully automated billing system allows for real time billing and quicker telecommunications reconnections, according to Gore.
Customers can now request a bill to date in which they can pay before the bill is prepared and sent via mail.
Additionally, reconnection service will no longer require a technician to physically go to a resident for reconnection as this will now be done immediately from APUA.
Gore said that the new system will also cut down the amount of time customers of the statutory corporation have to wait for a host of services.
Information Systems and INET Supervisor Francois Sutton noted that bills can also be sent to consumers via email and bills can be paid online.
