PwC, KPMG to advise Bengal power dept, utilities

KOLKATA: The state power departments WBSEDC and WBSETC have engaged consultants to advise them in capacity building and strategic management for taking forward the reform process with an aim to make the state PSU utilities best in the country by 2010.

"KPMG is leading a consortium of consultants for advising the West Bengal power department in capacity building for strategic management of the power sector reform. They would also advise us in building a long term communication strategy," additional chief power secretary Sunil Mitra told media.

PricewaterhouseCoppers will lead the consortium to advise the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd and West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd, Mitra said.

He said the consultants would evaluate and advise various aspects of capacity building like technical processes, business processes, inducting IT-based solutions and create a complete human resource strategy in both the utilities.

The power department has three years time to turn the utilities completly independent after the bifurcation of the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) as part of the reform process of the state power sector. The power department will evaluate and review the progress of the consultants after 18 months of the three-year contract. Both were engaged in March.

Mitra said, power department will have to get government approval on transfer pricing of the assets of WBSEB by 30 June on audited accounts of 2006-07.

The West Bengal cabinet in January, 2007 had approved the bifurcation of WBSEB and strengthened the balance sheet by waving Rs 10,000 crore from the books of WBSEB and West Bengal Power Development Corporation.