TANGEDCO in reforms overdrive to improve supply, up revenue

The state-owned TANGEDCO has lined up a slew of reforms in its bid to improve distribution of power and augment revenue.
This includes repair of transformers and monitoring solar and wind power production through a separate distribution centre and channel.
As a first step, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has started installing mini-transformers statewide to benefit consumers and save a lot of money on repairs of transformers.
These mini-transformers have a life span 10 years more than the current lot, a top corporation official told PTI.
He said that from now on, every 200 connections would have a transformer as against one for about 1,000-1,500 at present. The advantage is supply to a vast area would not be affected if anything goes wrong with the transformer and repairs have to be done.

Each transformer will be provided earthing or grounding transformer, which would sense a voltage drop. This would help save carriers and even equipment at homes. There would not be any need for a separate earthing for homes.

The official, who did not wish to be quoted, said even load shedding can be avoided in a vast area and could be segregated.
TANGEDCO, he said, would also provide SIM cards in metres to monitor consumption. Software has been developed to note the reading from the office itself and send consumption bill to mobile phones of people. Power theft would become a thing of the past in another one or two years, he added.

Plans are also afoot that establishing a separate distribution centre will help monitor solar and wind power production.
Officials have been trained abroad to monitor them, he said, adding that the proposed renewable energy management centre will be formed soon.