Smart water billing system in the works

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(From second right) Liwan , Dr Rundi, Dr Abd Rahman and Alice and others look at the new logo.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Utilities is planning how to implement smart billing system which sends water bill to customers’ handphone to improve the bill collection system.

Its minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said the ministry would work together with Sarawak Energy Berhad to undertake the smart billing work to make payment collection easier.

Sarawak’s non-revenue water is very high – at 61 per cent compared to 30 per cent for other states in the country.

“Water is a commodity and it should be a rewarding investment. Water is a crucial product to look after. Sarawak is lucky to have high rainfall,” Dr Rundi said.

He also said the ministry would want to provide better services and solve the water supply problem in rural and coastal areas.

The ministry had to solve problems like aging and leaking pipes. He also said there were plans to implement the water grid which would take more time and high cost.

To solve the problem, the ministry, he said, would use other means like Sarawak Alternative Water Supply to provide clean drinking water to people in rural and coastal areas.

“We are at the final stage of a discussion with all agencies under the ministry to have an integrated IT system. I have instructed officers to conduct a comprehensive study on reliable water sources such as hydro electric dams and water grid for the state,” he said at the launching of ministry’s new logo at Pelita Complex at the Isthmus yesterday.

On another subject, Dr Rundi said the electricity supply coverage in Sarawak was 87 per cent as of last year. By 2015 the coverage would 100 per cent.

Assistant Minister of Water Supply Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and permanent secretary to the Utilities Ministry Dato Alice Jawan were also present at the function.