The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) has launched its new “BENECO MO ITO” mobile application, aiming to provide member-consumer-owners (MCOs) with convenient access to BENECO’s services.
The homegrown app, now available for download on Google Play, allows consumers to manage their accounts, view ledgers, and pay bills directly from their Android phones, laptops, or desktops.
According to Paul Donaal, Management Information and Communication System (MICS) Supervisor, the “BENECO MO ITO” app is designed to streamline various transactions for MCOs. “Users can now pay their electricity bills quickly and securely, receive updates on power interruptions, billing, and other services, and access customer support all from the convenience of their mobile phone,” Donaal explained.
A key feature of the app is an in-app bill calculator, which allows consumers to input their kilowatt-hour consumption and automatically calculate their estimated bill. The app also facilitates payments for current bills, arrears, surcharges, reconnection fees, and capital share contributions through its partnership with Dragon Pay.
While a P20 convenience fee applies to transactions made via Dragon Pay, Ofelia Biagtan, BENECO’s Collection Supervisor, emphasizes its value. “The P20 convenience fee is still very reasonable, considering that jeepney fare to and from town is P26 on the average, even more coming from further areas. Our paying consumers will not have to contend with long queues anymore; they can pay even after our collection centers close at 5 PM,” Biagtan stated.
BENECO is also in the process of onboarding additional payment gateways such as Gcash, Paymaya, and Unionbank to offer more options to consumers.
Further enhancing convenience, the app includes a barcode generator for consumers who prefer to pay at collection centers. Users can display the barcode on their phones, which tellers can scan for faster and more accurate transactions. For those who still require a physical copy of their bill, the app allows users to print their statement of account and other BENECO downloadable forms.
Other Features from the app includes real-time power interruption updates directly from the System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. An embedded notification system will remind consumers of their due dates, helping to prevent missed payments.
“BENECO services will be at the fingertips of our consumers. They will stay connected to everything BENECO. Our team at the MICS developed this application for them; we hope our MCOs will download and use this to also help us, assist them,” Donaal encouraged. By Laarni S. Ilagan
