Expect reliable power supply data to hold distribution utilities accountable

Some ERCs have already volunteered to use it to increase consumer satisfaction

Consumers can now expect reliable data about quality of power supply as the Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs) have volunteered to use Electricity Supply Monitoring System (ESMS) for monitoring distribution utilities. The installation of ESMS will help consumers to hold distribution companies accountable as it records voltage every minute at its location and sends the data to a central server using a standard mobile data network.

ESMS introduced by the Pune based NGO Prayas Energy Group has been so far launched at 60 locations across 9 States including 20 mega cities and 16 districts. Further, ESMS can be utilized to assess hours of power supply as well as perform comparative analysis of supply quality across different locations. Forum of Regulators (FOR), a representative body of ERCs recently discussed the functioning of the ESMS and reviewed its functioning as initiated by some of ERCs. FOR official informed that ESMS will be installed in few hundred more locations to be covered in the coming months.

According to Prayas Group, reliable service quality data can help ensure accountability of investments in distribution infrastructure, estimation of demand supply gap, planning and accountability for short term power purchase and tariff-Service quality linkages.

Prayas Group core team member Shantanu Dixit told Business Standard told Business Standard,''Several Regulatory Commissions, such as Joint Regulatory Commission, Karnataka, and Assam commissions have initiated steps to join the initiative in this regard. We hope that ESMS will facilitate regulatory commissions and utilities to improve supply quality and hence consumer satisfaction.''

He informed that ESMS is aimed providing independent, evidence-based insights about actual power supply quality faced by consumers at various locations. ESMS uses advance technology and provides detailed status about supply interruptions and voltage quality, which is publically available on the watchyourpower.org website, without any manual intervention. ESMI successfully demonstrates use of technology in cost effective manner to assess supply quality and thereby holding utilities accountable for service standards.