UP discom to adopt smart management to cut losses

New process to help reduce pilferage, improve metering

Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), the power distribution company for western Uttar Pradesh, is likely to introduce a smart electricity management system to tide over the losses arising out of power pilferage.

PVVNL managing director V V Pant told Business Standard, “We have got encouraging results in the pilot project and now plan to introduce it in more areas.”

He said the system would be launched commercially after the pilot project meets all the stipulated parameters and milestones. Later, a tender process would be taken up, which could take about two months.

The new system incorporates power theft detection with real-time alerts, which would help curtail commercial losses. Besides, wrong reporting of meter status as well as incorrect and incomplete meter reading would be addressed.

The system is expected to introduce transparency by eliminating wrong billing.

A private company has joined hands with PVVNL for the pilot project.

The aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses in the 14 districts incurred by PVVNL were high. AT&C losses are the sum total of technical losses, commercial losses and shortage due to non-realisation of the total billed amount. It also includes power theft and losses during transmission and distribution of power.

The AT&C losses for the state of UP stood at a whopping over 30 per cent during 2013-14.