Power reform programme to be implemented soon…

• The Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (R-APDRP) of UT electricity department will soon be implemented as the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission ( JERC) has accorded its approval to the department for availing the funds from the central government through the Power Finance Corporation (PFC). These funds will be used towards the implementation of Part-A of R-APDRP scheme for creation of reliable and automated systems with IT intervention for sustained collect ion of accurate baseline data.

• R-APDRP will have projects which would be undertaken in two parts - part A and part B. Part-A includes the projects for establishment of baseline data and IT applications for energy accounting/auditing and setting up IT based consumer service centres. Part-B shall include regular distribution strengthening projects. Part-A also covers SCADA implementation which facilitates centralized control of power supply position in Chandigarh. PFC has been appointed as a nodal agency for this Central Government funded scheme.

• The Government of India will provide 100% loan for part-A of the scheme and the entire amount of loan for it shall be converted into a grant after establishment of required baseline data system within a stipulated time frame. According to electricity department officials, the R-APDRP system will sort out various problems, while adding that the data related to meters and electricity consumption in various places will be available at the click of a mouse with the management information system. Also areas where there will be a power cut would also be identified early.

• A total of 17 modules are to be implemented in part-A, making most of the work of the electricity department computerized and web-based. The consumer will get to know the progress of any work by logging on to the electricity department's website. The centralized customer care centre will also be established which will work 24X7. The consumer can approach the centre at any time with his or her complaint and would get a number for further reference. Touch screen kiosks will also be established through which consumers will be able to get any information they want and pay their bills at any time.

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AP power sector gets Rs 1,604 cr from Centre…

The Andhra Pradesh government has directed all the distribution companies (discoms) to bring down aggregate technical and commercial losses to below 15 per cent in major towns in the state.

To achieve this target, the discoms have been asked by the state energy department to fully gear up for the implementation of the Re-structured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) meant for this purpose, within the schedule period.

Dinesh Kumar, principal secretary (energy), who reviewed the progress and performance of APEPDCL on Saturday, said that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 1,604 crore under Part-A and Part-B of the R-APDRP scheme to achieve the target.

With the investment of Rs1,604 crore the state government is expected to take up construction of numerous new substations, laying of new lines, renovation of old substations and lines, replacement of old electro-mechanical meters with high quality static meters, providing automatic meter reading instruments to the meters near distribution transformers (DTRs) and high-tension services, apart from establishment of a data centre, a disaster recovery data centre and a centralised customer care centre in the discom headquarter, a release said.

The state government has requested the power ministry to extend the scheme even to towns with population of 10,000 instead of the Centre’s criteria of 30,000 under Part-A of R-APDRP.

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