The Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) is well on the track to complete the High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) in the next two years, which it embarked on in the year 2002.
In thirteen years, the company has migrated 60 per cent of its 12 lakh agricultural connections into HVDS system, which yielded breakthrough in the form of higher performance and efficiency. While the remaining 40 per cent requires a capital outlay of Rs.2500 crore, the company has secured a loan for Rs.1550 crore from Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), while an interest-free loan for Rs.600 crore from the World Bank is in the pipeline. The company is keen to fast-track the process to achieve HVDS compliance in two years.
Ever since the launch of the HVDS, the line losses have significantly dropped from a whopping 25 per cent to a mere 9.3 per cent, against the international standards of 5 per cent.
“In fact, Southern Discom and Eastern Discom of Andhra Pradesh, at 9.3 and 7.5 p.c. respectively, are much ahead in bringing down transmission losses than any of the companies in the neighbouring states,” says APSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director H.Y. Dora.
Advantages
The HVDS system has brought in several advantages such as improved metering and billing, reduced incidence of transformer failure and power breakdown, low voltage at the tail-end and burning of motors.
Even while cracking the whip on power pilferers by stepping up vigil, the previous Telugu Desam Party regime successfully implemented HVDS alongside, thus restoring a semblance of order in the rural power sector.
