UP districts with high power theft may get less power

LUCKNOW: You may soon be getting less power supply if your district has high power theft. In a move that is set to generate much heat, the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission ( UPERC) has mooted an idea to link power supply with the line losses. This means, the districts which register more line and commercial losses (power theft and less metering) would accordingly get lesser supply. Noida, which registers lowest line loss — around 8% — would thus be at an advantage in terms of power supply than any other district of the state.

The move could ruffle the feathers of 'VIP' districts which get comparatively more power but have high line losses. With the regulator deciding to go ahead with the formula that seeks to put in place a performancebased index, the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) will be under obligation to lessen the power supply in the such districts.

"The idea is to proportionate the revenue recovery with the supply. If the areas get higher power supply but lag in revenue generation, there is no point in giving them power. It would only increase the revenue deficit and would eventually affect power tariff determination," said UPERC secretary, AK Srivastava. UPERC sources said that commission chairman, Desh Deepak Verma decided to consider the formula following repeated complaints of consumers suggesting less metering and more power theft in some of the districts.

Srivastava said that managing directors and chief engineers of all distribution companies have now been asked to provide district wise break up of accumulate transmission and commercial (AT&C) losses so that the data could be computed to devise a formula that could directly proportionate power supply with the line losses.

Already three districts Bareilly, Faizabad and Shahjahanpur — have come on the radar of the regulator because of high AT&C losses. The UPERC secretary said that at present line losses account for nearly 30% to 40% of the supply in the state. This includes transmission, technical and commer cial losses. In some of the districts, the line losses may be as staggering as 60% to 70%. "This needs to be checked", said a senior UPERC official.