Odisha discoms aims to prune AT&C loss to 30% by fiscal end

With its electricity distribution companies battling steep AT&C (aggregate technical & commercial) losses, the Odisha government has aimed to cut the losses to 30% by the end of this fiscal.

The state government in 2010 had launched the Rs 2400-crore Capital expenditure (Capex) scheme for the ailing discoms to taper the AT&C losses, targeting a minimum of 3% reduction each year. By the end of 2015-16, the AT&C loss had come down to 36% from 38% in the preceding fiscal.

The government has also emphasised on 100% billing and metering efficiency through quality power supply and timely delivery of services.

Power discoms have been asked to fast track replacement of the defective meters and step up enforcement activities through squad checks and disconnection for bringing down the theft and bypassing. They were also advised to improve their cash balance situation by enhancing collection efficiency.

With regard to improvement in billing system, mobile-phone-photo based spot billing system has been implemented in three discom areas like Nesco, Wesco and Southco. Earlier, Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (Cesu) has upgraded its billing system with spot billing handsets. 

Now, the steps are being to further upgrade that to mobile photo based spot billing system. Old and poor performing billing agencies have been replaced with new effective agencies. New contracts with provisions of penalty for wrong billing and incentive for 100% accurate billing have been put in place.

A system has been developed to provide hassle-free new connection to domestic consumers within 48 hours at their doorstep. E-biz application has been rolled out for providing new service connections to industrial consumers under ease of doing business guidelines. 

Efforts are being made to replace burnt transformers within 24 hours under different schemes. HT consumers are now being included in automated billing system through GPRS signals through which actual power consumption in every 30 minutes would be automatically recorded at the head office through GPRS signals. The HT meters will be added with a modem which would send the signals of power consumption.