Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has recorded the lowest transmission and distribution loss of 6.33 per cent, among all the power distribution companies in the country.
According to Chairman cum Managing Director of APEPDCL M. V. Seshagiri Babu this was achieved by plugging the gaps in the technical and commercial loss making areas.
When the average transmission and distribution loss of all discoms in the country stands between 8 to 12 per cent, we were able to bring it down to 6.33m said GM (Energy Audit) of APEPDCL K.V.Ch. Pantulu.
On the technical side, the discom has implemented a number of steps to bring down the loss factor. To begin with it has taken up a huge step to cut down the pilferage at the metering level. APEPDCL has already installed about 12 lakh Infrared Data Acquisition (IRDA) Meters and about 20 lakh high accuracy meters. “We intend to cover all the 50 lakh odd households and consumers in three phases,” said Mr. Pantulu.
To avoid overloading of the feeders, the discom has taken steps to segregate the feeders sector wise, such as domestic, agriculture, commercial and industrial. “This system has enabled us to cut down our T and D losses by about one per cent,” said Mr. Pantulu.
But the prime focus had been the quality of product and maintenance factor. “Quality matters a lot in cutting down the loss. We have replaced the entire 5,500 km. of 33kv line, with reinforced conductors and have replaced the aging transformers with five-star DTRs,” said Mr. Seshagiri Babu.
APEPDCL has already installed 43,000 five-star DTS and remaining 45,000 odd will be done in phases. The distribution company has also distributed about 6.5 lakh CFL bulbs. “To cut down the loss due to overloading, we have installed HVDS (High Voltage Distribution System) in the AGL sector, said Mr. Pantulu.
On the commercial side to cut down power theft, the company has replaced the normal cables with air-bunched cables in theft prone areas.
“The power theft in our region was about 4 per cent compared to 10 other discoms. By using this cable, we could bring it down to 1.5 per cent. Right now our technical loss comes to about 4.33 per cent and the commercial loss accounts to 2 per cent,” said Mr. Pantulu.
