Coordinated call centre launched to tackle power emergencies

A coordinated call centre with hotline number, 16999, has been launched in the power sector through which consumers of any distribution company can lodge a complaint and get a solution.

State Minister for Energy Nasrul Hamid formally launched the new call centre at a function at Biduyt Bhaban in the city today.

He said the new call centre will be an easy way to provide the services to the power consumers.

"After a long effort since 2016, finally we have been successful in setting up such a coordinated call centre," he told the function.

According to the announcement at the function, all six power distribution companies -- Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco), Northern Electricity Supply Company PLS (Nesco), and West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) -- have been integrated with the new call centre.

Any consumer of the six companies can call and lodge complaints from which the call centre will connect them with the person responsible to get a solution to their problem.

Similarly, the consumer can use an App of the Power Division and a social media page Chatbot to lodge the complaint.

Hamid said that currently each of the distribution companies has their own call centre and separate numbers.

"But this coordinated call centre will be consumer-friendly and will be operated by professional people," he said adding, as a result, this will yield better results in addressing the consumers' complaints.