Despite several steps being taken to stop line loss by the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) for this financial year, the target is far from being met.
Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) had set the target to reduce such loss up to 15 per cent for the year 2017-18. However by January this year, line loss of the UPCL was reported to be around 17 per cent. UPCL officials said that the loss of revenue on this count would not be reduced as they expected as per the target fixed by UERC.
An UPCL official said that by January this year, there has been difference of around two percent between actual line loss as per the target set by UREC. This year too, UPCL would face financial losses due to the same, he said, adding that currently UPCL is facing financial loss of around Rs2300 crore. Last year the line loss was reported to be around 17.39 percent. UERC had set the target of 15 per cent for UPCL for this financial year. Difference of 2.39 per cent would result in a financial loss to the tune of around Rs 200 crore for UPCL.
UPCL spokesperson and chief engineer AK Singh, however, expressed hope that the line loss this year would be minimum.
Another department official said that several steps, including timely execution of equipment and removal orders against the defaulters, are being taken to control things.
The premises of the permanently defaulting consumers are being checked to ensure that the defaulters do not use electricity from any other source. The settlement of billing disputes, including timely delivery of electricity bills to the consumers, is being stressed. Besides, meter is being installed outside the houses of the consumers, the officer said, adding that double meters for the big consumers are also being installed.