With rapid expansion of electricity infrastructure in the State, consumer number and energy demand is going up in a big way.
According to the latest projection for 2019 by the State Energy Department, while by March 31, 2018, the consumer’s strength went up to 72 lakh, it will go up to 96 lakh by March 31, 2019.
So in one year another, 24 lakh consumers will be added, which is a very heavy task, thanks to massive expansion of power infrastructure in the State.
As on 2000, there were 16 lakh consumers, which went up to 53 lakh in 2014. During last 18 years, number of consumers has grown by more than four and a half times.
And during last four years, 19 lakh consumers have been added, which is considered as a big jump officials say.
With Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHGYA) to be covered by December 31, 2018, demand for power will touch 4,800 Million Units, which was 3700 Million Units in 2014.
The State Government is implementing SAUBHGYA on a mission mode and out of 96.02 lakh households, 93.18 lakh households have already been covered leaving hardly 3 per cent of the total households.
Recently, Union Minister for Power RK Singh reviewed the progress of SAUBHGYA implementation in Odisha and expressed satisfaction over the progress as the progress report was presented by Energy Secretary Hemant Sharma.
The State Government is striving hard to improve quality supply of power as AT and C loss, which was 57 per cent in 2000, has been brought down to 40 per cent in 2014 and further to 32.80 per cent in 2018.
During next one year there is a target to curtail AT and C loss to 28 per cent, an official says in the Department of Energy (DoE).
According to details of the electrical infrastructure made available in the State, the High Tension Line (HTL) is set to go up to 1.46 lakh km by 2018-19.
Projection is that HTL will go up to 2.26 lakh km by March 31, 2019 as plans are executed on mission mode.
Similarly 33/11 KV Sub Stations were 600 in 2014, which will go up to 758 in 2018-19 and by March 31, 2019, it will go up to 1,250. These facilities will provide better and quality power supply, feel officials.
For massive expansion of power sector, the State has pumped in Rs 20,400 crore for generation, transmission and distribution of power.
And for power generation Rs 3,500 crore was made available while for transmission infrastructure Rs 5,000 crore State support was extended and for distribution of power Rs 11,900 crore was funded, officials admit.