Discoms cut power loss by half

The AT&C losses account for the amount of energy that is considered ‘lost’ while being transmitted.

“We define AT&C losses as the gap between the amount of energy pumped into any given system,and the amount recovered from that system. For instance,if we transmit 100 units into a network,but are only able to bill consumers for 75 units,then 25 units are declared lost,” a distribution company official said.

Over the years,the three distribution companies (discoms) in Delhi have managed to pulled down the AT&C losses. As per information made available by the discoms,by 2009,loss levels in BRPL areas stood at 20.9 per cent and in BYPL areas at 24.44 per cent.

NDPL,provided figures till 2010,stating its loss level stands at to 14.70 per cent.

In comparison,when the discoms took over in 2002 from the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board,the ATC&C loss levels in the three areas were above 50 per cent — in BYPL areas it was 63.16 per cent.

To explain the gravity of these figures,Power department officials often use the following example: Each percentage of energy that is declared ‘lost’,is valued at Rs 90 crore. Internationally,normal rates of AT&C losses tend to fluctuate between 5 per cent and 10 per cent. This indicated that the situation in Delhi was appalling,and expensive.

Since 2002,the cumulative cost of reduction of losses stands at Rs 5,402 crore.

“One of the causes for technical losses was the outdated capital infrastructure of the time. When wires overheat as current flows through them,a lot of energy can be lost. The other big reason was power theft,and finally,failure to initiate effective collection of billed energy was another factor,” the official said.

To rein in the leakage of energy,discoms called on energy accounting experts to draw strategies. The Delhi government also set annual targets for the discoms to bring down loss levels. “To start with,we focused on reducing technical losses,which was a very tricky and capital intensive affair. We had to bring in updated technology such as transformers that curb loss level,” the official said.

In the first two years after privatisation,all three discoms carried out extensive upgrading drives.

In order to curb commercial losses,discoms focused on two major areas: collection and power theft. Bills were simplified,and made more specific. “A range of payment options were given to the consumer,like collection centers in every neighborhood,online payments,etc,” the official added.

To deal with power thefts,discoms divided areas into ‘high-theft’ areas and ‘low-theft’ areas to deal with them separately.

Lok Adalats were set up where people were encouraged to get connections if they did not have one. An electricity court was set up to hear cases of power theft,and stringent punishments meted out to those found guilty in order to serve as a deterrent.