Kenya Power, Toshiba sign pact to reduce distribution losses
Kenya Power and Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt Ltd (TTDI), a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, have entered into a pact for implementation of a pilot project aimed at decreasing distribution losses in the national grid. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will guide installation, testing and evaluation of equipment that will be supplied by TTDI, on a trial basis, to improve efficiency and reduce both technical and commercial losses in the distribution network, a press statement said. “As the network grows in tandem with the rapid increase in the number of customers, we experience both technical and commercial losses. We are focused on bringing down the system losses from the current 19 per cent to single digit figures in the medium term,” Kenya Power Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer Ben Chumo was quoted as saying in the statement. The pilot project will involve installation of new type of transformers (amorphous distribution transformers) manufactured by TTDI in the distribution network, to of enhance efficiency, the statement said. In addition, TTDI, under guidance from Kenya Power, will supply safe and eco-friendly solid insulated switchgears and gas insulated transformers to fight vandalism. “TTDI has made concerted efforts to understand and respond to the needs of Kenya Power. I believe this MoU reflects KPLC’s positive evaluation of TTDI’s high quality products and of our proposal to contribute towards achieving stable electricity supply,” TTDI chairman & MD Katsutoshi Toda said. Austin Hooper Jersey
Govt’s top priority to reduce T&D losses: Energy secy
The top priority of Rajasthan government is to reduce electricity transmission and distribution loss and put an end to the losses incurred by discoms, a top official of energy department has said. “This is possible only if we work together and bring Rajasthan on number one position in electricity sector”, said Sanjay Malhotra, Principal Secretary, Energy Department. He was addressing a review meeting here yesterday. Shrimat Pandey, Chairman Discoms has instructed the chief divisional engineers to verify actual loss in industrial sectors. He further clarified that it will be the executive engineers who will be responsible to bring down the losses in industrial sectors in a target based manner. Kevin Pillar Authentic Jersey
Discoms ‘sense’ DERC notification as AAP’s influence
In the wake of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) notification on compensation for unscheduled outages, power discoms are apparently sensing a “disturbing” trend of the AAP government trying to “influence” the power regulator. Tata Power discom (TPDDL) has already filed a petition with the DERC challenging the notification that still awaits the nod of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung even as a senior government official yesterday said the High Court verdict will not affect the notification issued by the power regulator. Power experts have also cited “practical difficulties” towards implementing the order. It will require replacing the existing meters, numbering around 50 lakh, with smart meters which may entail investment of a few thousand crores as they cost multiple times more than the existing ones. “Delhi government influencing the ‘independent’ regulator raises a very disturbing trend of attempt to influence DERC. This is against the spirit of the Electricity Act, 2003. The basis of the power reforms was to establish the independence of the regulator and to limit the interference of the state government,” a source said. The DERC had issued the order, which includes making the discoms liable to pay Rs 100/hour to customers in case of power cuts exceeding two hours, following directions from the city government in this regard. The Delhi High Court had recently quashed the directions of the government where prior approval of the LG was not taken before issuing them although it did not affect the notification issued by DERC. Experts also pointed towards section 57 of the Electricity Act, 2003 which says that before determination of compensation, the licensee (discoms) concerned shall be given reasonable opportunity of being heard and that automatic imposition of compensation by way of regulation is “not possible”. While the government has pulled up the BSES discoms over their “atrocious” performances, the Reliance ADAG-owned company has blamed power theft and its inability to augment infrastructure like installing sub-stations despite repeated reminders to the authorities concerned to provide land. The city’s power sector was privatised in 2002. Willie Snead IV Authentic Jersey
Bengal keeps out poor, midddle-class, agriculture from power tariff hike
The West Bengal government has kept the agriculture sector, middle class and below poverty line (BPL) consumers out from power tariff hike, state Power Minister Shobandeb Chattopadhyay said on Thursday. “I can assure you that the government will not allow the rates to be increased for domestic, BPL and agriculture segments. I cannot verify the changes allowed by the regulator in the categories outside these right now. “High rise buildings and bulk consumers of electricity might face an increase in the price,” Chattopadhyay said at the sidelines of an energy seminar organised by The Bengal Chamber. Average power tariff of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) is getting dearer by 23 paise with effect from July billing cycle. The minister noted that the discom (distribution company) is already getting a subsidy of over Rs 400 crore. “State government provides subsidy to the distribution company so that tariff rate upto 300 units can be kept at a relatively lower rate for domestic consumers,” an official of State Electricity Regulatory Commission told IANS. Chattopadhyay further said West Bengal will achieve 100 per cent electrification by mid 2017. The government is working to electrify entire Sunderbans population and 95-97 per cent work has already been completed. Ramon Humber Authentic Jersey
UDAY scheme: Power companies still losing 20 paise on every rupee spent on transmission
UDAY, a government scheme aimed at rescuing power distribution companies from their financial mess, may not be an immediate success because the utilities continue to lose at least 20 paise on every rupee spent to send electricity to consumers. However, there has been an improvement, with the average loss on every rupee spent narrowing from 25 paise last year. The loss is on account of increases in expenses and costs, which are not reflected in tariffs, according to a study by rating companies. “If cost components are not reflected in tariffs, utilities cannot recover what they spend for consumers and losses will remain,” said Sabyasachi Majumdar, senior vice president at ICRABSE -0.54 % Ratings. “No matter how many revival schemes are announced, build-up of losses and debt levels will not stop unless these utilities recover what they spend on sending power to consumers’ premises.” The Union Cabinet approved the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna, or UDAY, in November to facilitate the financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies. The scheme seeks to achieve its goals by improving operational efficiencies of the utilities, reducing the cost of power, lowering interest costs and enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with state finances. “In the past, the government helped power distribution companies to write off these losses but they keep on accumulating again because recovery remains less than 100 per cent,” said a senior analyst. The government said in November that the weakest link in the value chain is distribution. It said distribution companies in the country were trapped in a cycle of operational losses that were funded by debt. They had accumulated losses of Rs 3.8 lakh crore and outstanding debt of Rs 4.3 lakh crore in March 2015. The utilities, too, are partly to blame for failing to file revised tariffs with the regulators on time, leading to delays in approvals and the recovery of money spent. This year, 28 of 40 utilities did not file for tariff revisions with the regulator on time. The situation has been deteriorating, with 25 utilities failing to file tariff revisions on time last year and 19 in the previous year. Connor Williams Jersey
Centre keen to tone up power distribution, network infra: CEA
The Centre is on a missionary mode to address the twin challenges of financial revival of distribution companies and reduction of transmission and commercial loss, said SD Dubey, Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority. Delivering his keynote address at the inaugural session of CII’s Energizing South 2016 conference on “Smart – Reliable – Sustainable Power”, Dubey said, “the Centre is keen to increase the efficiency of power distribution system in the country by addressing issues like network infrastructure, and IT enablement. It is also revising and amending technological standards for grid connectivity.” The government’s priority is the efficient and systematic development of generation, transmission, and distribution systems, the three limbs of the power sector. Dubey further said that though India has almost achieved power surplus, the benefits of generation and transmission have not reached consumers due to constraints in distribution. There are several parts of the country still experiencing power cuts, non-availability of power, and supply of non-quality power. India’s power sector has come a long way since Independence. In 1947, India had 1.4 GW of available power but today, the installed capacity has increased to over 300 GW with over 250 million connected consumers. Bob Probert Jersey
Maharashtra to soon introduce Energy Conservation policy
The Maharashtra government will soon come up with an Energy Conservation policy which will aim at enhancing the technology required to improve electricity generation. The draft of the policy, prepared in line with the Centre’s Energy Conservation Policy of 2001 has been uploaded on the government’s website and recommendations have been invited from experts to strengthen it, a statement released by the state Energy department said. “Increase in development and growing population of the state has caused a rise in the demand for electricity. Keeping in mind the development of industries, there will be a further rise in energy demand,” it said. As per the release, most of the electricity being generated today is through non-renewable sources like coal, fuels, etc which causes an imbalance in nature, increases pollution and is a factor causing global warming. “Also since these resources are fast depleting, we may not have enough of them in future. Thus these resources need to be used wisely,” it added. The Energy department said the new policy will ensure the government provides sufficient infrastructure for the Centre’s 2001 policy to be implemented. Once implemented after getting the state Cabinet’s nod, the government will save around 1000 MW energy in various sectors by 2020-21, it added. The policy once implemented will also aim to reduce the financial burden on the government by saving electricity, oil and gas. David Rundblad Authentic Jersey
Snag in MP plant, power dearer for Punjab
A snag in the ultra-mega thermal power plant located at Sasan in Madhya Pradesh has forced Punjab to buy electricity at much higher rates from other sources to meet the shortfall. The Sasan thermal power project is situated near a coal pit head and is run by the Reliance Power Limited (Anil Ambani group). Four out of six thermal units in the power plant broke down which caused the shortfall in power supply in Punjab. The plant supplies power to seven procurer states including Punjab, which buys 15% of the total produce. The plant with a capacity of generating 3,722.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity is now producing much less power affecting Punjab in the paddy season. The electricity produced by the Sasan thermal plant is priced at Rs 1.58 per unit while in Punjab the private projects plants sell power at a much higher rate. Talwandi Sabo power plant prices its energy at Rs 7.26 per unit and the Rajpura thermal plant sells it at Rs 4.10 per unit. Sources said on August 16, the production of Sasan thermal plant fell to 824 MW registering a loss of 2,898.4 MW, which caused Punjab a loss of 10.4 million units. Average availability of power at Sasan was been recorded as 851 MW on August 17, 1,608 MW on August 18, 1,795 MW on August 19, 1,646 MW on August 20, 2,505 MW on August 21, and 2,756 MW on August 22. Joakim Nordstrom Jersey
State electricity board officials caught taking bribe in Rajasthan
Two senior officials of the Rajasthan electricity board were today arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau while they were accepting bribes. Additional Chief Engineer Narendra Kalra and Executive Engineer Jitendra Singh of the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam were caught taking bribes of Rs. 25,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively from representatives of a construction company. Acting on a complaint by the company manager Jitendra Singh, ACB laid a trap and sent Singh with the money to Kalra at his Jodhpur office while another employee of the company was sent to Dhankhad at his office in Jhunjhunu where they were caught. On the complaint of the project manager of the company, Jitendra Singh, we arrested Kalra and Dhankhad from their respective offices in Jodhpur and Jhunjhunu while accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 today , said SP (ACB) Ajay Pal Lamba. Following their arrests, their residences were also searched, informed Lamba. They will be produced in the court tomorrow, he added. Kevin Labanc Jersey
Delhi government has no powers to register FIR against RIL
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Monday moved the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the FIR in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin case, claiming that the Delhi government has no power in gas pricing case. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva was informed by the RIL that the FIR by Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government against it for alleged irregularities in raising the price of gas from KG-6 basin was lodged without jurisdiction to probe such matter. The court sought the Delhi government’s response to RIL’s plea by September 29. The Delhi government was never entitled to lodge the FIR and it has to be quashed as it has been lodged by a police station (ACB) which does not have the jurisdiction, RIL told the court. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his first stint had asked the ACB to lodge an FIR in the matter despite the fact that the anti-corruption agency did not have any jurisdiction to probe the matter, said the company. It referring to August 4 judgement of the division bench of the high court which held that powers of the ACB were limited to probing graft cases in various departments which were under the administrative authority of the Lt. Governor and not extending to central government employees. The RIL, erstwhile UPA ministers M. Veerappa Moily and Murli Deora (since deceased), RIL’s Chairman Mukesh Ambani, former Director General of Hydro Carbons V.K. Sibal were named in the FIR lodged by the ACB in 2014. All of them denied the allegations. The complaint, on the basis of which the FIR was lodged in 2014, alleged that impact of gas price rise would cost the country a minimum of Rs 54,500 crore per year. Ryan Carpenter Womens Jersey