Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: H. Rajesh Prasad, the Principal Secretary of the Power Development Department (PDD), conducted a review today of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), urging maximization of revenue and a reduction in Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
Attending the meeting were the Managing Director of JPDCL, the Managing Director of JKPTCL, Additional Secretaries, Chief Engineers, Chief Electrical Inspector, and other JPDCL officials.
The Principal Secretary assessed the performance of all 1400 feeders under JPDCL, noting significant enhancements in several areas coupled with a decrease in losses. He instructed the MD to perform case studies on the top-performing districts to replicate effective strategies in other regions. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of acknowledging and rewarding high-performing individuals while enforcing strict measures against those who underperform.
The status of smart metering projects was also evaluated, with appreciation expressed for the considerable advancements in various districts of the UT. He conveyed satisfaction with the results, especially in smart metered areas, where losses had notably dropped. He mandated continuous power supply in all 100 percent smart-metered zones.
The Principal Secretary reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to achieving 100 percent smart metering across all Feeders and Distribution Transformers (DTs). He called for efficient execution of the smart Feeder & DT Metering projects, highlighting their value in enhancing energy accounting and load management. He was informed that JPDCL is nearing completion of feeder metering for all 1400 feeders, putting them ahead of other states and UTs.
He also recommended adding more functionalities to feeder metering systems to enhance tracking and remote monitoring of energy metrics, curtailments, and outages. This initiative will significantly contribute to the overall automation and modernization of the Power Distribution sector, ultimately resulting in heightened consumer satisfaction, he noted.
The Principal Secretary urged the officers to aim for a reduction of losses to 15 percent at all divisional and sub-divisional levels. He remarked that J&K offers some of the lowest power tariffs in the country, while power purchase costs are considerably higher and necessitate advance payments. He stressed the necessity of educating consumers to settle their bills punctually.
Earlier, Yasin Chaudhary, the MD of JPDCL, provided a detailed presentation outlining performance metrics, including billing efficiency, collection efficiency, and other commercial parameters. He reported that, as of November 2024, the total revenue collection of JPDCL had reached Rs 1661.54 crore, reflecting a growth of 20.49 percent from the previous year.
He also informed that the overall power situation in Jammu has substantially improved, with unscheduled power outages largely reduced, except for occasional instances due to low frequency or technical constraints in the Northern grid, particularly during peak load periods. He credited the smart metering system as a crucial factor in minimizing wastage, which has spurred improvements across several fronts.
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