INVC,,
Haryana,,
Chairman and Managing Director, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Mr. Devender Singh today said that Haryana Power Distribution Utilities have consumer satisfaction at the top of their priority list and then to improve economic health of the Nigams, by reducing the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses from present 30 per cent to 15 per cent in next three years. Mr. Devender Singh was addressing the gathering of newly recruited Assistant linemen of the DHBVN, for training. The Assistant linemen are under induction training. He said that a crash programme is being launched to maintain whole of the electricity distribution system in the State during next six months so as to minimize interruptions in power supply with effect from next summers. It would also reduce technical losses. He said that the villages which reduce AT&C losses to below 25 per cent on their feeder would get supply for 20 hours daily on urban mode. However, to get this benefit, all defective and old mechanical meters would be replaced with new electronic meters, all meters would be relocated outside the premises of consumers and all dwellings in the villages shall have regular metered power supply. The losses, above the level of 25 per cent, can be reduced in three equal tranches. At reduction of first, second and third tranche of AT&C loss, the villages would get supply for 14 hours a day, 17 hours and 20 hours (urban mode) a day respectively. Presently, the villages are getting supply for 11 hours a day. Haryana has achieved second highest growth in India because of better infrastructural facilities including power. But a lot is required to be done to provide round the clock reliable power. The power utilities plan to give reliable power supply to each category of consumers for 20 hours in next three years. Mr. Devender Singh said that the electricity service is getting more and more important not only as an important part of infrastructure but also as a basic necessity of people. Consumers are also more aware and demand efficient service. A need has aroused to envision the electricity sector, where there would be adequate supply, with consumer having more power. He said that for this, we will have to improve the financial health of the distribution utilities so as to strengthen the power distribution system and purchase sufficient power. Before this, all out efforts will have to be made to give prompt and attentive service to the consumers. The per capita power consumption in Haryana is 1400 units per annum against national average of 800 units. But, per capita consumption in developed countries like the United States of America is 18,000 units per annum. It reflects what we are to achieve, he added. Mr Devender Singh said that the power distribution corporations in Haryana are bearing heavy loss at present. The cost on power supply in Haryana has increased by 330 per cent during last ten years against the tariff hike of merely 27 per cent. Thus, gap between cost of supply and rate of return has increased to Rs. 2.50 per unit. Resultantly, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam are facing an accumulated loss of Rs. 8830 crore. Mr Devender Singh said that the juncture compels electricity utilities to enhance efficiency and excellence in power distribution as this is the only room left to minimize increasing energy prices and increase satisfaction level of consumers. He said that there is ample potentiality to reduce the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses and considerable savings can be made simply by reducing these losses. He said that it was very important to strengthen the distribution system to minimize complaints and technical losses. The Power Distribution Utilities have to continuously endeavour to bring in the latest technologies in system augmentation and improving consumer service. Going forward, there has to be a much higher focus on supply side management. Mr. V K Chaudhary, Director, DHBVN and Mr. Sumer Yadav, Director, Training Institute also addressed the gathering and apprised the Chairman about the training of the newly recruited ALMs. About 1200 ALMs and senior officers including director, chief general managers and general managers of DHBVN were present. Earlier, all officials of the DHBVN present here observed two minutes’ silence to pay tribute to the former Prime Minister of India, Mr. I. K. Gujral.
