Date:12/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/12/stories/2006101220350100.htm

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BESCOM cuts T&D losses to 9.5 p.c.

Special Correspondent

Government draws up Rs. 15,000-crore plan to generate 4,000 MW of power

MESCOM prunes T&D losses to 10 per cent

1 per cent cut in T&D loss saves Rs. 18 crore

BANGALORE: Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has scored over all other State-run electricity supply companies, with its transmission and distribution (T&D) losses being among the lowest in the country.

Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna told presspersons here on Wednesday that BESCOM's T&D losses had come down to 9.5 per cent, and this could drop by another 0.5 percentage points with improvements to the system.

Mangalore Electricity Supply Company had done well with T&D losses of 10 per cent while the State average hovered around 34 per cent, he said. A 1 per cent reduction in T&D losses would save Rs. 18 crore. High T&D losses were a problem for Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL). Power theft was being accounted for as T&D losses, the Minister said. The State Government had drawn up an ambitious plan to generate 4,000 MW of power at a cost of Rs. 15,000 crore over the next five years, apart from focussing attention on improvements to the transmission system, which could enable the State to meet the electricity demand and ensure quality power supply, Mr. Revanna said.

After a high-level meeting with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy recently, he had directed the authorities concerned to prepare a project report relating to additional power generation and improvements to the system throughout the State, he said.

The expenditure involved had been estimated at Rs. 30,000 crore and funds would be raised from financial institutions and internal accruals of KPTCL, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) and the five electricity supply companies.