Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) has commenced work on executing a Central Government-funded power reforms project in southern districts of the State.
Preliminary works on executing the Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP), which aims to bring down transmission and distribution (T&D) losses to less than 15 per cent, has been taken up, official sources told The Hindu here on Thursday.
While Tamil Nadu has been sanctioned Rs. 307 crore for Part A of the project, Madurai region, one of the nine in the State, has been allotted Rs. 66 crore.
One of the initiatives planned under this project is providing automated meters for all consumers, including those in domestic, commercial and industrial categories. This measure will enable precise calculation of ‘energy loss,’ which is now calculated manually.
20 Towns
The Corporation has begun gathering energy consumption data of 20 towns in Madurai region, which comprises five southern districts. These towns have a population of over 30,000 and T&D losses over 15 per cent.
The data would be collected for three billing cycles between February 1 and July 1 and handed over to a third party independent evaluating agency. ‘Ring fencing,’ by which the entire energy consumption of a town is monitored, and establishment of baseline data have also been taken up.
While three towns have been chosen each in Dindigul, Madurai and Sivaganga, four towns in Ramanathapuram have also been chosen along with six in Theni. Madurai Corporation, covered in ‘urban agglomeration’ category as it has a population of over four lakh, has also been chosen.
Efficient monitoring
Madurai urban area will also get a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Centre at a cost of Rs. 44 crore. This sophisticated equipment will enable the TANGEDCO to effectively monitor all its ten 33 KV sub-stations and 5 110 KV sub-station in the city, ensure smooth functioning and automate their operation.
A main initiative under this project is to increase the ratio of high tension lines, which have higher efficiency. The Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the nodal agency for R-APDRP. Part B of this scheme will include augmenting TANGEDCO assets by employing High Voltage Distribution System, which will cut down transmission losses.
Under the R-APDRP, other projects such as IT applications for accounting energy, including consumer indexing, Global Information System (GIS) mapping, automated metering in distribution transformers, high tension feeders, MIS redressal of consumer grievances and IT-based consumer service centres, are also being taken up.
