Haryana to implement Punjab’s power model
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 22
With Punjab power corporation scripting a success story for drastically bringing down the Aggregate Transmission and Commercial (AT&C) losses in the past five years, Haryana has also decided to adopt the Punjab model to bring down its AT&C losses. A team of experts today visited Patiala to see the systems adopted by the Punjab power corporation.

Haryana would adopt at least one 11-KV feeder in each operation circle to implement the Punjab model. While in the last five years, the Punjab power corporation has brought down AT&C losses from 22.5 per cent to 17.4 per cent, the present figure for Haryana is about 25 per cent.

In 2007-08, the power engineers working in the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) had taken the initiative to reduce AT&C losses under a pilot project and had selected four 11-KV feeders of the Patiala West Division. Under the project, engineers shifted meters outside the premises of the consumers, replaced the conductors and transmission wiring. After the pilot project became a success, it was extended to the entire state a few years back.

Pleased about the fact that Haryana was following the footsteps of Punjab, the Punjab State Power Corporation Director (Distribution) Arun Verma said so far 20 lakh electricity meters had been shifted out of the consumers’ premises and work to shift the rest of the 45 lakh meters was underway.

“Apart from this, conductors on the 10,000-km stretch have been replaced. The AT&C losses in Patiala are only 15 per cent,” he said.

“Shifting the meters and replacing the wiring and conductors improved the voltage and eliminated any chance of power theft,” said Secretary, Finance, Northern India Power Engineer Federation.

Recently, the federation had given a presentation on the adoption of the low cost model to bring down AT&C losses to the Haryana Distribution Companies.

Reducing power theft

In five years, Punjab brings down AT&C losses from 22.5 per cent to 17.4 per cent
20 lakh electricity meters shifted out of consumer premises while the remaining 45 lakh are being shifted out
In urban areas four meters are being shifted on poles while in rural areas 20 meters are being shifted