New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), the company responsible for electricity transmission and distribution within Uttar Pradesh, has launched a 90-day drive to bring down aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) losses to 15 percent. The news comes in the backdrop of the first tranche of funds being released to UPPCL under the Rs 90,000-crore bailout package announced by the Centre for discoms. "With the aim of providing better power supply to consumers, UPPCL has in the first phase identified 60 high loss feeders in each district and launched a 90-day drive to bring losses to 15%. We have also sought cooperation of public and public representatives," UPPCL Chairman Arvind Kumar said.
According to official data, in Uttar Pradesh, the total outstanding dues of discoms stands at Rs 13,694 crore, second only to Tamil Nadu, where dues are at Rs 18,077 crore. Loans under the Rs 90,000-crore bailout package come with pre-conditions, which require discoms to take rigorous steps to bring down AT&C losses and improve efficiency. Kumar said that UPPCL has sought Rs 20,950 crore under the package and added that the first tranche of payment has already been transferred.
Elaborating on the plan, the UPPCL Chairman told PSU Watch, "In order to sensitise the common people in these areas where AT&C losses are high, we have also roped in public representatives. We have conducted video conferences in which MLAs, officers from corporations, right to the junior engineer-level, have taken part. All the MLAs were given list of feeders which were in their area. The point is to enlist their support as well in bringing a behavioural change."
UPPCL officers will be doing a root cause analysis to determine why the losses are so high. During this drive, they adopt a 12-point programme under which they will correct feeder and consumer data and tagging of consumers on feeder for accurate energy accounting and audit. They will prepare a database of mobile numbers and KYC details of consumers for better communication, identify theft cases/meter bypass cases and take legal action. Correction of wrong/faulty bills so that consumer gets correct bill and is able to pay will be ensured, said the UPPCL Chairman.
The company will also ensure correct meter reading and billing each month, replace faulty meters, if any, convert unmetered consumers to metered consumers, allow online submission of applications for releasing new connections, increase bill payment facilities in rural areas at the doorstep through SHGs, PDS shops, CSCs, generate public awareness regarding timely payment of bills, promote online payment of bills and ensure disconnections of consumers who have accumulated arrears in case of non-payment.
The state's average AT&C loss is 30 percent, higher than the national average of 19.19 per cent, according to UDAY portal. As of March, the total net loss of all five discoms in the state stood at Rs 819 crore, according to the portal.
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