Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy has directed OPTCL, GRIDCO and distribution companies (Discoms) to make the power sector self-sustaining through aggressive system reforms and reduction in aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) loss.
Tripathy gave this direction while reviewing the Covid-19 impact and current challenges in the power sector at a meeting held digitally on Monday evening.
Tripathy directed OPTCL and Discoms to improve quality and reliability of power supply by optimising the use of the existing network.
Principal Secreaty and Gridco CMD Saurabh Garg said the percentage of AT & C loss has been reduced from 57% to around 29.94%. The State has power surplus of around 1,000 MW per year.
Review showed that because of the shutdown and lockdowns, the power demand has reduced by 14% during the period from March-June 2020 in comparison to the previous year. The captive generation and consumption has also reduced by 25% in April, 12% in May and 2% in June.
The meeting decided to extend necessary financial guarantee support to Gridco as power is a critical basic need.
Discoms were directed to achieve at least 98% of the billing and collection capacity during this year.
Tripathy directed to focus on reduction of AT& C loss, as reduction of 1% AT&C loss leads to around Rs 130 crore of revenue gain.