Telangana fails to curb losses in power

Hyderabad: TS Transco has failed in reducing the transmission and commercial losses and, as a result, is losing a huge revenue.

In the latest report submitted to Ujwal Discoms Assurance Yojana (Uday), TS Transco said the transmission and commercial (T&C) losses are at 16 per cent in the state.

Compared to Southern Discom (SPDCL), North-ern Discom (NPDCL) is in a better position vis-a-vis transmission and commercial losses. In (SPDCL), the losses are at 15 per cent and in (NPDCL) , the loss is at 12 per cent.

In Andhra Pradesh, the T&C losses are at 11.58 per cent. TS energy officials said that, due to supply of power to the agriculture sector and the excessive length of transmission lines in Telangana, the transmission and commercial losses are at a high percentage.

Compared to the northern states, TS is, however, in a better position in transmission and commercial losses.

In the MoU signed with the Union power ministry at the time of joining in the Uday scheme, the TS government said that the discoms shall endeavour to reduce T&C losses from 14.11 per cent for SPDCL and 12.84 per cent for NPDCL in the financial year 2015-16. 

It also said that the discoms have a plan of strategy to reduce the T&C losses to 12.68 per cent in SPDCL and 11.90 per cent in NPDCL in 2016-17 and 11.30 per cent in SPDCL and 10.95 per cent in NPDCL in 2017-18.

 The TS Transco said, "However, if the target in a particular year is not met, then the Discoms shall strive to achieve the targets in the subsequent years so as to achieve the desired target of T& C losses of 9.90 per cent for SPDCL and 10 per cent for NPDCL by 2018-19.

According to an energy department official, Discoms are losing revenue of Rs 3,000crore due to transmission losses, and Rs 1,000crore due to commercial losses per year. Discoms are supplying about 50,000 MU per year. In this, transmission losses are put at 12 per cent and commercial losses at 4 per cent. 

The consumers are supplied power through lengthy lines and due to the inherent quality of conductors, transmission losses are at a high side in Telangana. If more number of substations are set up, the transmission losses can be reduced. At the rate of 12 per cent transmission losses, about 6,000MU of power is being lost. If one calculates the cost of power per unit at Rs 5, Discoms are losing about Rs 3,000crore. At the rate of 4 per cent, the commercial losses of Discoms for 2,000MU of power is about Rs 1,000crore. In the commercial losses, power theft is also added by the energy officials.

According to a report submitted by the TS government, the T&C losses in GHMC area are as follows:

Division, 2015-16, 2016-17
Hyderabad North, 7.32%, 7.25%
Hyderabad South, 43.20%, 36.18%
Hyderabad central, 13.41%, 11.14%
Total in SPDCL, 14.16%, 12.68%
Total in NPDCL, 12.84%, 11.90%