The Hindu : New Delhi News : BSES plans strategy to curb commercial losses

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Sunday, Jul 02, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

BSES plans strategy to curb commercial losses

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Technical losses brought down to minimum level of 12 per cent; discom expanding its customer base to curb theft

NEW DELHI: Having been able to ensure and retain the zero per cent level of commercial losses in Mumbai, BSES has now embarked upon a multi-pronged strategy to cut down on high commercial losses arising primarily out of power thefts in its distribution areas across Delhi.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited, Lalit Jalan, the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses of power during transmission are still high at 35 per cent in BSES Rajdhani areas and 47 per cent in BSES Yamuna areas, so efforts are being made to further cut them down.

"One main purpose of privatisation was that the Delhi Government had no control over losses but now it is saving Rs. 1,800 crores annually through the process. While technical losses have been brought down to the minimum level of 12 per cent as in Mumbai, we are now trying to reduce commercial losses further.''

To this end, Mr, Jalan said large-scale intelligence mapping is being done and 120,000 customers who include industrial units, commercial establishment and high-end residential premises have been surveyed and their consumption patterns have been recorded. Stating that these customers alone consume about 70 per cent of all power supplied by BSES, the official said since their meter readings have been downloaded any discrepancy in consumption patterns gets noticed immediately and raids are conducted on those suspected to be indulging in theft.

BSES, he said, was now conducting about 50 raids per day with a 95 per cent success rate. Lamenting that the law and order problems primarily involving attacks by vested interests used to hamper enforcement drives earlier, Mr. Jalan hoped that the coming in of the Central Industrial Security Force, which would provide security cover to the raiding teams, would help in curbing thefts now.

"We had reached a stage where the staff members demanded that they be moved out of enforcement as the personnel often ended up getting attacked brutally. But now the situation should improve as BSES would get a company of CISF each for the Yamuna and Rajdhani regions.''

Likewise, he said, while earlier those held for thefts used to quickly get stay orders from court, the setting up of Special Courts would make a difference. "Four special courts -- two each for BSES and NDPL -- have been set up and they would cater exclusively to power-related cases as per the mandate.''

Stating that "proprietary intelligence" has become the mainstay of anti-theft operations, Mr. Jalan said BSES was now also focusing on expanding its customer base to curb theft. "We have electrified 420 new colonies and less than a hundred are left now. Even those would be covered soon.''

Claiming that there has been improvement in the quality of power supply due to introduction of the ultramodern SCADA and GISD systems, the official said there had been a 90 per cent reduction in breakdowns due to equipment failure. Further, he said, BSES was planning to invest Rs. 2,000 crores more on system augmentation and for replacing the old network.

Stating that despite this magnitude of capital investment, the company was not in the red and had shown good results, Mr. Jalan said it was also not asking for another tariff increase.

"We are okay and doing well. However, it is the Delhi Transco Limited that has shown high losses. So as long as the rate at which the power is supplied to us is not increased, we would not be calling for a tariff hike.''

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