Discom chief details steps to check transmission losses

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 30. Mr P. M. K. Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited, has asked State power utilities to implement four steps for reducing transmission and distribution losses.

They are construction of more sub-stations and transformers, installation of quality meters at every stage to assess the loss under each category, making supply at high voltage and removal of LT lines.

Speaking at the five-day national meeting on ``Techniques for Assessment and Reduction of Transmission and Distribution Losses,'' which began at Engineering Staff College of India at Gachi Bowli here on Monday, Mr Gandhi said the proper assessment and reduction of TD losses would indicate the efficiency of any power utility. An exercise was on in the State for some time in this direction and there were results even with a partial implementation of the above measures.

Mr Gandhi told the meeting which was attended by power engineers from utilities of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Pujab and Karnataka, that prior to reforms, it was always presumed that the TD losses in the State would be around 20 per cent, but the ``real calculation'' which was made under the regulatory mechanism indicated the same around 36 per cent compared to 49 per cent in Orissa and 39 per cent in Maharashtra. The transmission losses alone were assessed at 4 per cent during the pre-reforms period. It was further revised to 5 per cent under a study made by SNC Lavelin of Canada, and now finalised at 8 per cent after further studies.

Mr Gandhi attributed the continuing TD losses to lack of spending so far on these two in the State as against the heavy expenditure made on generation. The damage caused to the system in the past by this mismatch was being undone now with relatively better budgets-- Rs 1,500 crores and Rs 1,000 crores so far for improving the transmission and distribution systems respectively. As a result, the transmission losses had come down by 2 per cent. For the first time, attempts were being made to supply power at high voltage with the construction of three 400-KV sub-stations, at Hyderabad, Nunna (Vijayawada) and Kurnool.

He said the commercial losses in the State were 13 per cent and out of this, 5 per cent was due to defective meters, four per cent each on account of theft and direct tapping. As far as his company was concerned, it was trying to separate agricultural feeders from the rest of the system for correct assessment and reduction.

Mr Gandhi said the supply system in Hyderabad would be computerised in a month when it would be possible to pinpoint and locate the defect-causing breakdowns providing for immediate rectification. A computerised grievance cell was also set up.

Dr C. Radhakrishna, Director, UGC Academic Staff College, said, first attempts were being in the country to measure the LT losses with the help of computer-aided tools. He detailed the lectures in the offing during the five-day programme. Dr S. Nagabhushana Rao, Director, ESCI, who chaired the first-day meeting, dwelt on the necessity to reduce the TD losses and the present constraints to do so. Mr C S. Sastry, Head, Power and Energy Division, ESCI, welcomed the gathering and Mr E. V. N. Prasad, programme officer, proposed a vote of thanks.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Online police verification to cut down delay
Next     : Cong. plans Statewide protest on May 8