Govt targets bringing down T&D losses to 15 per cent by 2019. Is it still achievable?

Sunil Misra, Director General, IEEMA

Indian power sector is undergoing a significant change that has redefined the industry outlook. Sustained economic growth continues to drive electricity demand in India. The Government of India’s focus on attaining ‘Power for all’ has accelerated capacity addition in the country. At the same time, the competitive intensity is increasing at both the market and supply sides (fuel, logistics, finances, and manpower). Total installed capacity of power stations in India stood at 334,146.91 MW as on February 2018. The Power Ministry has set a target to bring down the T&D losses from the current 22 per cent to 15 per cent by 2019. T&D losses happen in transmission between sources of supply and points of distribution as well as during power supply to consumers. The losses also include pilferage. The various schemes of the government, including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) will play a great role in bringing down the T&D losses.

Milind Thekedar, MD, JBS Enterprises

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T&D losses majorly take place during power transmission between any sources of supply to the distribution points or directly to the consumers. Breakdowns, system failures and pilferages are some other causes of losses. Government has launched various schemes that should play a significant role in bringing down the T&D losses. Strengthening the sub-transmission and distribution systems, installation of solar panels, fortify infrastructure to efficiently utilise energy, initiatives to implement smart grid architecture are some of the measures that are being taken. Also metering of distribution transformers and recording energy usage by consumers in urban areas along with IT enablement of the distribution sector are very crucial. With so much emphasis on energy conservation we hope that the government achieves what it plans for in the power sector.