The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Metered sales of energy in AP highest in country

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Thursday, Feb 28, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Metered sales of energy in AP highest in country

Special Correspondent

Only 1.67 crore out of 1.92 crore service connections in the State have been provided with meters so far

HYDERABAD: Metered sales of electricity in Andhra Pradesh have gone up in a jump from 80 per cent to 88 per cent, the highest rate anywhere in the country.

Yet there is scope to take the percentage still higher. Only 1.67 crore out of 1.92 crore service connections in the State have been provided with meters so far. The rest of the connections are mostly serving agricultural pumpsets for which the Government is extending free power supply, as a policy without meters.

‘The success story of increase in metered sales and reduction in transmission and distribution (T&D) losses’ achieved by the five power utilities in the State - AP Transco and four distribution companies - was presented before the Planning Commission on Thursday in New Delhi by AP Transco CMD Rachel Chatterjee.

Growth in revenue

The hike in metered sales - which became possible following replacement of sluggish meters by high quality electronic ones and a thorough check on theft and pilferage - have led to a growth in revenue and consumer base. Line losses in the State fell to almost zero at 11 kv transformer level. Meters have been installed at all 11 kv transformers to measure outflow of electricity and ring fencing raised around to prevent pilferage/theft.

She told Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Alhuwalia that the State could reduce T&D losses to 19.82 per cent and was on way to cut it further to 17.3 per cent. This would be the lowest T&D loss rate in the country and would save Rs.134 crore to the utilities. Ms. Chatterjee told the commission that the phenomenal reduction in T&D losses was due to modernising and strengthening of distribution and transmission network.

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