Date:11/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/11/stories/2005021103510500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Proposal to connect industries with remote metering cell

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 10. The Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (CPDCL) has proposed connecting all the industries with the Remote Metering Cell with a view to cut down interruptions in power supply and monitor voltage fluctuations in a better way. At present this facility is being used to ensure an uninterrupted, seven-hour supply to agricultural feeders.

M. Ram Mohan, superintending engineer, SCADA, told presspersons here on Thursday that the CPDCL earned good revenue from industries and therefore it was planned to put them on remote metering cell. The remote metering facility now covered 740 meters in the districts of Kurnool, Anantapur, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy. With this device it was also possible to find out if the power supply was being tampered.

Presspersons were shown the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and other facilities to explain steps being taken by the CPDCL for providing uninterrupted power supply to consumers in the twin cities.

The SCADA remotely controlled and monitored the distribution system in 106 sub-stations covering an area of 1,555 sq. km. The project started three years ago helped in quick restoration of supply, fault analysis and the close monitoring of supply for essential services and important areas. With SCADA it was also possible to programme load shedding in a systematic manner reducing inconvenience to the consumers, Mr. Ram Mohan said.

He said SCADA provided real time information as well as historical data. Sitting at the SCADA centre the operator can switch on feeders and carry out voltage improvements. Four sub stations in the city were now virtually unmanned and everything was being done through SCADA. Gradually it was proposed to make all sub-stations unmanned.

Complaint cell

Though the CPDCL had set up the electricity complaint call centre with the telephone number 1912, it was not being availed of fully by the consumers. At present about 1200 recorded calls were received on this number per day. Complaints can be lodged on this number round the clock by consumers of the twin cities and the 10 surrounding municipalities.

Besides, a separate control room at the CPDCL corporate office was set up to receive and monitor complaints and regulate the quality of power supply in coordination with APTRASCO grid for all districts.