Electricity distribution losses have gone up to 15.77 per cent and the aggregate technical and commercial losses (AT & C) to 21.83 per cent in the year 2015-16 compared to last two years. However, activists alleged the losses are more, forcing consumers to pay Rs 6,600 crore every year.
As per the latest figures revealed by the state economic survey, the distribution losses by Maharashtra State Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) was 15.77 per cent in the year 2015-16 up from 14.17 per cent the previous year. The losses by Tata Power have also gone up to 1.13 per cent from 0.58 per cent in the previous year. Reliance Infrastructure losses have reduced a little from 9.53 per cent in 2014-15 to 9.36 per cent in 2015-16. The BEST has also reduced its losses from 6.53 per cent in 2014-15 to 5.9 per cent in 2015-16. Mahadiscom is the major distribution company in Maharashtra while other companies are limited to Mumbai only. As per the survey, the contribution of Mahadiscom to the distribution utilities in the state was 84 per cent followed by Reliance Infrastructure with 6.8 per cent, Tata Power with 5.3 per cent and BEST 3.9 per cent for 2014-15.
The AT & C losses have also gone up for Mahadiscom from 18.71 per cent in 2014-15 to 21.83 per cent in 2015-16. Tata Power’s losses have also gone up from 0.58 per cent to 1.13 per cent in 2015-16. However, Reliance Infrastructure losses have come down a little from 9.53 per cent to 9.36 per cent in 2015-16, the survey said.
In order to improve the situation, the Mahadiscom has taken a few measures, such as modernisation of extra high voltage (EHV) sub-stations, replacement of faulty meters, load reduction on overloaded HT & LT circuits by providing additional transformers and erection and commissioning of new sub-stations and lines under various schemes along with anti-theft drive, the survey added.
It has claimed to reduce theft cases too. “Under the anti-theft drive, 61,219 cases were detected during 2014-15 and an amount of Rs 57.08 crore was recovered. During 2015-16 up to December, 28,344 cases were detected and amount of Rs 8.73 crore was recovered,” the survey said.
However, Pratap Hogade, convenor secretary of Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana, said that the losses are more than that claimed by Mahadiscom. He also claimed that the power theft cases are more and in connivance with the officials that go unregistered. “Honest consumers are made to pay Rs 6,600 crore evey year owing to corruption and power theft. However, the Mahadiscom has not taken efforts to reduce the losses or stop power theft. The situation of power distribution is worse than the picture painted by the company,” Mr Hogade said.
