Experts stress on energy conservation

Energy conservation is an effective way to tide over the prevailing shortage of power in Orissa as well as in the country, according to experts.

They pointed out that about 50 per cent of power was wasted due to wasteful use and this calls for conducting energy auditing.

They said that proper utilization of electricity was necessary at a time when the Centre aimed to electrify all villages across the country and provide power to all by 2012.

The experts made these suggestions at a two-day seminar on Challenges in Energy Scenario in India in the Twenty First Century, organized by the Institute of Engineers, India, Berhampur and Southern Orissa Electric Supply Company (Southco).

The seminar was inaugurated by D P Bagchi, former chief secretary of the state government.

The power requirement in the country is projected at 4,00,000 MW by 2020 and meeting this requirement posed a big challenge to the nation.

At present, the total installed capacity of the power stations throughout the country is about 1,52,360 MW out of which thermal and hydro-power generation is 80,395.88 MW and 36,885.44 MW respectively.

The experts also stressed on the management of power distribution and reduction of the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, preventing theft of energy and consumer satisfaction.

Due to these distribution losses, the country's energy loss is about Rs 35,000 crore every year, said a senior electrical engineer quoting a report of the Government of India.