Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister AK Sharma claimed a “transformation” in the power sector, particularly the electricity supply system, over the past 18 months.
He said the improvement was achieved due to consistent efforts for the maintenance and renovation of the power distribution infrastructure.
The minister said during this period, the UP Power Corporation Limited achieved record supply of close to 30,000 megawatt during the peak demand in September. He said the state not only ensured uninterrupted power supply to consumers but also witnessed a remarkable 9 per cent decline in technical and commercial losses, referred to as Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) Losses.
Additionally, the state achieved an “unprecedented success” with a substantial 20 per cent increase in revenue collection, he added.
Sharma asserts that significant infrastructure improvements have been at the heart of these achievements. Also, 41,000 kilometres of dilapidated low-tension power distribution lines have been replaced, while new bundle cables have been installed. Furthermore, the installation of 90,000 new electricity poles has been completed in the past month.
In his statement on this milestone, Sharma pointed out that consumers have experienced superior service and uninterrupted power supply due to a comprehensive programme of infrastructure maintenance and renewal, coupled with technological advancements.
In the financial year 2021-2022, technical and commercial losses were recorded at 31.19 per cent and these have been significantly reduced to a mere 22.01 per cent in the financial year 2022-2023, a decrease of over 9 per cent.
“There has been a remarkable 20 per cent increase in revenue collection over the past year. In October 2022, our revenue collection stood at Rs 4,139 crore, and by October 2023, it has surged by 20 per cent to reach Rs 4,844 crore,” he said.
Elaborating on the initiatives in progress, the minister said, “Under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) aimed at reducing AT&C losses, projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore are currently underway. Besides, investments of Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 1,000 crore are allocated for strengthening power distribution infrastructure in urban areas under our business plan.”
In line with efforts to improve the power system, approximately 1,000 transformers are being replaced daily. Over the past few months, a staggering 4.6 lakh transformers have been either replaced or upgraded. A substantial 41,000 kilometres of aging wires have been replaced with modern bundle cables, including approximately 6,000 kilometres in October alone. Moreover, to replace dilapidated and bamboo poles, 90,000 new poles have been installed just in the month of October.
Sharma says the state government remains committed to strengthening the power distribution system by rectifying shortcomings. The creation of new feeders and sub-stations ensures a continuous and uninterrupted power supply for all residents of Uttar Pradesh, he adds.
