The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has registered the lowest distribution losses (6.16 per cent) among the public utilities in the country, according to Ahmad Nadeem, the Chairman and Managing Director.
Reviewing the annual performance of the company at a press meet, he said the distribution losses for 2009-10 amounted to 8.4 per cent, the lowest in the country, and for the eight months till November, the losses amounted to 6.16 per cent.
“This is the lowest in the country. There may be one or two private distribution companies on a par with APEPDCL, or slightly better, but we are the best in the public sector,” he said, and added that there may be a slight rise in the losses in the remaining months of the financial year, as consumption increases in summer, but even then the APEPDCL would be able to retain its prime position.
In response to a question, he said power pilferage was also included in the losses. “But there is hardly any pilferage in the five coastal districts we cover — Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and the two Godavari districts. It is negligible. Technical losses amount to 6.16 per cent and we are trying to reduce them also,” he explained.
Nadeem said the prospects for the coming summer were bright, and the company was in a position to supply power without any interruption or cut to all consumers - agricultural, industrial and domestic. “We have made all arrangements. All industries will get power without any cut and agriculture will be provided free power for seven hours a day in two spells, as promised by the State Government. Domestic consumers will also face no problem this summer,” he promised.
Summer supply
He said APEPDCL was going to spend Rs. 121.17 crore on setting up seven 132/33 kV sub-stations, Rs. 41.8 crore on 33 kV sub-stations (37 more), Rs. 23.34 crore on 33 KV interconnecting lines and Rs. 21 crore on feeder segregation in rural areas.
“Feeder segregation in rural areas will pave the way for quality power supply. We are releasing 25,058 additional farm connections during 2011 in the five districts.”
He said the company will spend Rs. 221.88 crore on high voltage distribution system for agricultural pumpsets and take steps for network improvement.
“For the first time in the country, we are introducing five-star distribution transformers (DTRs) in the country. Other companies are using four-star DTRs. All the steps would reduce the technical losses to the minimum,” he added.
The cost of the project was being met through a loan from an external funding agency.
Call centre
Nadeem said the APEPDCL was setting up a centralised call centre and improved Web portal in the corporate office here at a cost of Rs. 60 crore. It may be operational in February or March. TCS had been given the contract, he added.
He said the company was also considering adoption of radio frequency-based metering and introduction of pre-paid meters, at least in certain areas, on a pilot basis. He said the State Government had released the subsidy for the free agricultural connections. The company made a profit of Rs. 18 crore in 2009-10.
In response to a question on the power supply position to Chittivalasa jute mill under lockout in Visakhapatnam district, HY Dora, the Director (Operations), said the power connection to the mill had been dismantled as the mill management was not even paying the minimum amount and the arrears.
Reviewing the annual performance of the company at a press meet, he said the distribution losses for 2009-10 amounted to 8.4 per cent, the lowest in the country, and for the eight months till November, the losses amounted to 6.16 per cent.
“This is the lowest in the country. There may be one or two private distribution companies on a par with APEPDCL, or slightly better, but we are the best in the public sector,” he said, and added that there may be a slight rise in the losses in the remaining months of the financial year, as consumption increases in summer, but even then the APEPDCL would be able to retain its prime position.
In response to a question, he said power pilferage was also included in the losses. “But there is hardly any pilferage in the five coastal districts we cover — Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and the two Godavari districts. It is negligible. Technical losses amount to 6.16 per cent and we are trying to reduce them also,” he explained.
Nadeem said the prospects for the coming summer were bright, and the company was in a position to supply power without any interruption or cut to all consumers - agricultural, industrial and domestic. “We have made all arrangements. All industries will get power without any cut and agriculture will be provided free power for seven hours a day in two spells, as promised by the State Government. Domestic consumers will also face no problem this summer,” he promised.
Summer supply
He said APEPDCL was going to spend Rs. 121.17 crore on setting up seven 132/33 kV sub-stations, Rs. 41.8 crore on 33 kV sub-stations (37 more), Rs. 23.34 crore on 33 KV interconnecting lines and Rs. 21 crore on feeder segregation in rural areas.
“Feeder segregation in rural areas will pave the way for quality power supply. We are releasing 25,058 additional farm connections during 2011 in the five districts.”
He said the company will spend Rs. 221.88 crore on high voltage distribution system for agricultural pumpsets and take steps for network improvement.
“For the first time in the country, we are introducing five-star distribution transformers (DTRs) in the country. Other companies are using four-star DTRs. All the steps would reduce the technical losses to the minimum,” he added.
The cost of the project was being met through a loan from an external funding agency.
Call centre
Nadeem said the APEPDCL was setting up a centralised call centre and improved Web portal in the corporate office here at a cost of Rs. 60 crore. It may be operational in February or March. TCS had been given the contract, he added.
He said the company was also considering adoption of radio frequency-based metering and introduction of pre-paid meters, at least in certain areas, on a pilot basis. He said the State Government had released the subsidy for the free agricultural connections. The company made a profit of Rs. 18 crore in 2009-10.
In response to a question on the power supply position to Chittivalasa jute mill under lockout in Visakhapatnam district, HY Dora, the Director (Operations), said the power connection to the mill had been dismantled as the mill management was not even paying the minimum amount and the arrears.
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