Vikram Gour
Almost for the last more than three decades the gap between supply and demand of electric power has been steadily increasing and we have not been able to reduce the gap or we may say we have not made any serious effort to reduce the gap. In spite of the fact that the state has the highest potential in the country for hydroelectric power generation yet its forbidding cost of production has prevented the state from going in for increasing power generation. It is, therefore, imperative that we find alternate methods of reducing the gap between supply and demand.
According to economists the cheapest form of alternate energy resource is ‘energy saved’. As one unit of energy saved is equivalent to 1.25 units of energy generated taking the losses in transmission and distribution (T&D) to be only 25%(But in our state the losses are more than 60%).The reduction in (T&D) losses, the theft and misuse of electricity can significantly increase the availability of electric energy to the law abiding citizens’ for multifarious purposes of development of the State.
The above statement is truer in case of our state where T&D losses and theft/misuse amount to a whopping 65-70%. Presenting separate power budget in the year 2014-15, the Finance Minister revealed that as against Rs 4782.36 cores worth power purchase the revenue receipt from sale of power might be only about Rs 1800- cores against the target of Rs 3508 crores causing a loss of about 62%. This, however, does not include establishment, water usage, O&M charges, depreciation, and interest on loans etc that amounts to Rs 1303-crores. The total expenditure works out to Rs. 6085.36 crores that would catapult losses to 70.4%.
A casual study of the energy balance sheet of 2014-15 would reveal that of about 14503-MU of projected purchase of energy during 2014-15, the billing was only for 5849-MU resulting in Energy Loss of about 60%. Only if we are able to prevent about 50% from theft and misuse and reduce our T&D losses to National Average of 19-20% we shall be making tremendous gains in the availability of electric power to the genuine power users. Say if we save about 40% of the 60% losses and reduce the T&D losses to our national average we shall be making available 5769-MU of saved energy to the genuine consumers and add another Rs 1800-crores to state’s revenue without any additional investment,
(Imagine the cost of generation 904-MW thus saved @ 9-10-crores/MW). This would not only stabilize the power distribution system but would also increase revenue manifold. This can be done by 100% metering and strict accountability of the field staff involved in the power distribution system.
‘National Ujala Yojana’ is a major step in this direction wherein Ministry of Power has decided to save energy by replacing 200 million incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs of much lower wattage, thus 10.5 billion KWH saving in Electricity consumed in lighting all over the country.
Under the Uajla Yojana the Government will issue highly subsidised 5-LED bulbs for only Rs.100/-. Subsequently under the scheme LED bulbs will be available at 60% subsidised cost of Rs 85/-per bulb.
The biggest culprit in wasting the electric power in the Government sector is Public Health Engineering Department. In Jammu alone they have an installed capacity of about 50- MW in the shape of Tube Wells, Filtration Plants, and Booster Pumps etc. With all these installed equipment they pump out about 300-MLD of water per day for public use. As per the estimates worked out by ERA (Engineering Reconstruction Agency) dome time back, loss of water in distribution pipes of all sizes up to the consumer end is 57-60% (PHE department claims the loss to be only 40%). This does not take into account the loss of water due to overflow into the drains while pumping water in over head tanks at the user’s place. Thus with 60% loss the wastage works out to 30-MW of electric power which costs crores of rupees to the state exchequer besides creating scarcity of power availability to the average user. Only if the water wastage/losses are reduced to 10-15% nothing less than 16-17 MW of electric power will be made available to power users besides reducing the scarcity of water as well.
The following are a few tips which if followed would certainly reduce burden on the state exchequer.
* Creation of awareness among masses about energy efficiency through mass media (both print and electronic) campaigns and educational programmes right from the school level with the help of NGOs wherever necessary.
* Dissemination of information on energy consumption and energy conservation potential in various sectors.
* Strengthening energy audits capability in the state at all levels both at the receiving end as well as at the consumer end and strictly hold the department accountable for any loss of energy at any level right up to the consumer end.
* Training of technical and managerial personnel on Energy Management.
* Execution of technical and policy studies on energy conservation.
* Determine standards for equipment and processes and evolving norms for energy consumption in various sectors.
* Direct regulation and legislation relating to energy consumption.
* Improve the existing infrastructure for transmission and distribution of power supply to the universally accepted standards so as to reduce the T&D losses to nationally accepted norms.
By a combination of the above measures, the State Government (PDD) can attempt to create conditions in the economy to promote energy conservation. But these can be effective only if the energy consumers also take affirmative and positive action for energy conservation.
[The author is Member, State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Advisory Council]
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