SPDCL reduce losses with online energy auditing

Tirupati: The ‘online energy audit’ proving a key to bring down distributionlosses in Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) helping it to save a total about Rs 300 crore in the pastthree years. The distribution losses which was 10.78 percent three yearback is now brought down to 8.48 percent (2017-18).

The Assistant Engineers (AEs) taken up the responsibility of mapping thepower distribution network in their respective areas duly recording thenumber of services, existingfeedersand also the quantum of powersupply received and the total power distributed feeder wise andservice wise consumption.

The mapping of the power distribution system enabled the AEs to audit the power supply on daily basis to know thepower received and the power distributed which in turn saw detectionof any feeder incurring losses in the sense the sale (consumption) ofpower in the area vis-a-vis the power distributed from the feeder.

Speaking to The Hans India, APSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) MMNaik said the online auditing system is doing wonders in bringing down distribution losses.In the weekly meeting on energy auditing, the official based on thereports from the AEs identify the feeders making lossesand the causes.

The causes like lengthy power lines that are prone formore transmission loss, faulty meters, load increase due to inadequateconductor size, pilferage etc. for immediate follow up action toresolve them for checking distribution losses. The online energy auditingdaily by the AEs has made easy for SPDCL to get powerdistribution and sale details accurately month wise for follow upaction to reduce losses, he explained.

Towards reducing the adverse effect of the old (mechanical) meters,which was also found to be one of the reasons for distribution loses, theSPDCL speeded up the replacing them (old metres) with the latestIRDA meters, Naik said informing that 66 lakh old meters were replacedwith IRDA in the domestic category against the total 86 lakh service in the SPDCL limit, covering 8 districts Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam,Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool.

Based onthe findings in the weekly meeting on ‘online audit’ details,re-conducting i.e. enhancing conductor size, increasing sub-stationsto bring down power line length, regular drives against pilferage andother measures are promptly taken up as part of the measures to bringdown distribution loses, he explained.A separate division of online energy auditing has been created inevery district to ensure robust energy auditing system that is pivotalin containing the distribution loses.

Thanks to online energy auditing coupled with the follow up measuresresulted in SPDCL gradually brining down losses, he said citing theyear wise distribution loses. “In 2014, the overall distribution losses in SPDCL was 10.78 percentwhich was brought to 8.48 in 2017 (March) and this financial year weexpect to reduce it further to 8 percent in 2018-19,” he said.

Reducing one percent of distribution loss helps in saving of Rs 150 croreworth power, he said declaring that intense efforts will continue tillSPDCL is able to bring down the losses to less than five percent which is best at national level.