APERC happy over power sector’s performance

Hyderabad: The APERC has expressed immense satisfaction over the performance of Power sector in terms of reduction of losses, improvement in quality of power supply, maintaining 24×7 uninterrupted power supply, promotion of renewable energy and implementation of energy efficiency measures.  The Commission has welcomed the adaption of unique scheme UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) for the financial betterment of Discoms.  The Commission will continue to play active and pivotal role to protect interest of the consumers in particular and ensure the financial stability of the Discoms.

While hearing the views of the members of the State Advisory Committee (SAC) on December 21 at APERC headquarters, on various aspects of Power Sector, including LED Lighting System,  Solar Rooftop and so on, APERC Chairman Justice G Bhavani Prasad, along with members of the Commission P Raghu and  P Rama Mohan, has appealed to the general public/ consumers to give their views on UDAY Scheme, since this Central Government Scheme, the state Govt & Discoms are likely to enter into MoU. The  AP is the first state which has responded positively and conveyed its in principle acceptance on joining UDAY scheme to the Govt. of India.  The Chairman feels that by adoption of UDAY Scheme not only Power Sector, the entire state of AP will have bright future (“UDAY tho Ujwala Bhavishathu”).  Since consumer satisfaction is the ultimate satisfaction of the APERC, the Commission is further contemplating to adopt a regulation on consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) apart from making mandatory the publication of all regulations in regional language i.e., Telugu also.

During the meeting, the members of SAC have supported the view of the Chairman and Members of APERC that it is pride of the State for achieving several National Awards in the field of Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Renewable and Energy Efficiency.  After achieving International recognition in implementation of LED Street Lights scheme in vizag, the EPDCL  has attracted national attention in achieving reduction of Distribution losses of below 5% on par with Global Standards.

During the meeting participated by Advisor Energy Department  K Ranganatham, CMD/EPDCL  Muthyala Raju, Director Finance APTRANSCO . P. Dinesh and other advisory committee members, CMD/APTRANSCO K Vijayanand has disclosed to the Commission that the AP Government is very keen to implement the UDAY Scheme which will immensely benefit to the Discoms, Consumers and the State Government.  As per the scheme the state Government shall take over 75% of the Discom debt as on September 30 over two years – 50% of the Discoms Debt shall be taken over in 2015-16 and 25% in 2016-17. 

The State Govt. will issue non-SLR bonds in the market or directly to the respective banks/ financial institutions holding the Discoms debt.  Proceeds realized from issue of the bonds will be transferred to the Discom as a grant.  This will benefit the State Government with reduction in ARR quantum which will lead to lower Tariffs in the future.  Post implementation of the scheme, the effective interest rate on the entire quantum of loans will be in the range of 8.17% to 8.37%.  Apart from the above, the State will get the additional benefits upon meeting operation milestones like additional priority funding through DDUGJY, IPDS Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF) or other Central Government Schemes, additional Coal allocations, Low Cost Power from NTPC etc., said CMD, APTRANSCO.

During the meeting CMD/EPDCL has given on-line presentation to the members on monitoring of the Feeders in EPDCL and stated that by establishing separate load monitoring cell at Vizag, the Discom is monitoring power supply position on minute to minute basis, loading of the existing feeders, distribution transformers etc., the EPDCL is contemplating to issue additional release of 2000 nos. of Agricultural connection apart from 1000 No. solar pump sets already released. The Commission arranged publication of Regulation No. 7 of 2000, Regulation 4 of 2013 and regulation No.5 of 2004 in English & Telugu. These newly printed regulations were released by  K.Ranganatham, Advisor, Energy, K.Vijayanad, CMD of APTRANSCO, R. Muthyalaraju, CMD/EPDCL. (NSS)