Orissa mulls action plan to reduce T&D loss

With a view to reduce the power transmission and distribution (T&D) loss in the state by about 6 percent, the Orissa government is trying to evolve a well thought out action plan.

As a measure in that direction, a meeting of the executive engineers working under different power distribution firms has been convened on 26th of this month.

Apart from the top executives of the four distribution companies, two commissioners of the regulator, Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), the energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and senior officials of the energy department are expected to attend the meeting. Sources said, the proposed meeting has been convened after the Planning Commission made adverse remarks about high T&D loss in Orissa, which ranks third among the states with high T&D loss. The issue was also discussed in the state power ministers’ conference held in New Delhi recently.

While the T&D loss in the state by the end of 2008-09 was 37.5 percent, the government feels it is imperative to bring the loss down at least by 6 percent within one year. The annual T&D loss of the four distribution companies in the state is about Rs 300 crore with the cumulative loss estimated at Rs 3000 crore.

Against this backdrop, the proposed meeting would deliberate on loss reduction measures, improving revenue generation and making distribution business viable.