CERC study to plug power loss

In what may be the most comprehensive step to check aggregate transmission and commercial (AT&C) losses, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has commissioned a regulatory information management study to get reliable baseline data by the year-end.

The study, to be conducted by KPMG, will also help states to shift to multi-year tariffs compared to yearly tariffs at present.

"The study will help in keeping a check on the AT&C losses and present a realistic situation without going by the data provided by the distribution companies," CERC Chairman AK Basu said.

The study will take into consideration five states and on the basis of data collected from them a system will be developed for other states as well.

A committee under the Forum of Regulators had called for bids to select the organisation to undertake the study. Around a dozen entities had placed their bids.

According to power ministry data, transmission and distribution losses are at present in the range of 18 per cent to 62 per cent in various states. The AT&C losses are in the range of 50 per cent.

The commercial losses are mainly due to low metering efficiency and pilferage. The ministry feels this may be eliminated by improving metering efficiency, proper energy accounting and auditing.