The TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL) which is entrusted with distribution of power supply in the five districts such as Baleswar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar has taken up several initiatives towards consumer service in terms of renewed billing systems, dedicated Customer Call Centre and Customer Care Centre for consumers’ satisfaction.
Besides it is working on a new metering and billing system. Collection agencies have been engaged to ensure timely billing and collection of bills. A further initiative has been taken up for reducing the AT and C losses significantly, said a release.
“Although the State Government had invested significantly in new 33 kV substations and lines over past few years, most part of the old network is highly overloaded and dilapidated with long lines without any protective systems, covered with trees and vegetation, damaged and missing network elements and protective systems, leading to multiple outages and low voltages at tail ends. There was no concept of preventive maintenance, network planning or customer care. Immediately on takeover, the TPNODL took up a Project “Clean Up” whereby the entire network was cleared up of trees and vegetation.
Simultaneously, the repairs of essential network elements are taken up on war footing. This not only reduced the outages but also minimized the impact of Yaas Cyclone, which the company restored in record time of five days,” claimed the release.
The existing low voltage pockets in some parts of Baleswar have been identified and remedial measures are being taken up expeditiously. The company has engaged high quality experienced agencies from August 2021 to provide AMC services and carry out extensive repair and maintenance of the 11 kV and 33 kV network engaging around 8,000 workers with vehicles and all necessary tools and implements.
An experienced network Consultant M/s PRDC has been engaged to carry out detailed network study and suggest prioritized areas of improvement, it added.The TPNODL has also surveyed entire network and has drawn up and submitted to the OERC an elaborate capital investment plan to strengthen the network, introduce advanced technologies like Ring Main Units, Auto Reclosers, Sectionalizes, Thermo vision cameras etc., and systems like SCADA, GIS to create visible progress in the field for providing reliable and high quality power supply to its valued consumers.
There has been some delay in billing in the Balasore division in the month of August, 2021, which was due to testing and rollout of a proposed new billing system, whereby some of the consumers were charged in higher slab.
Data for all such consumers have been elicited and steps taken for processing credit on a proactive basis. This credit shall reflect in next billing cycle, the company clarified.“We value our customer feedback and understand present power scenario of Baleswar which needs to be improved significantly as per the growing expectations of consumers for reliable and quality power supply. We at TPNODL are very much confident that by March next year our consumers will experience a new era of improved services and performance,” said TPNODL CEO Bhaskar Sarkar.