The State power utility, Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl), is all geared up to start a new programme to check power thefts. Besides, the PSPCl’s Rs800 crore ambitious project would also facilitate its consumers by providing them the facilities of online bill payments, power cuts schedules, new connections, meter reading, among other things, on a click of a button.
For the purpose, the PSPCl, popularly known as Powercom, has decided to get connected with the System Application Products (SAP) programme.
“This would integrate all the programmes, activities, etc and enable us to provide better services to our consumers. This new system would not only help Powercom in rendering user-friendly services, but also helps in keeping the delivery of services and its effectiveness,” a senior PSPCl official told The Pioneer.
Powercom is pinning a lot of hopes on the new setup to check the prevailing menace of power-thefts across the state, which is eventually incurring huge losses to the Corporation. Already, the PSPCl had, recently, initiated several steps to check power theft in the state, including curtailing transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.
Currently in the initial stages, the official said, the entire project was estimated at the cost of Rs 800 crore, and we were expecting it to be completed by December 2016. SAP provides a common database via which one can have access to a comprehensive range of programmes.
“Under this system, the people’s troubles of standing in lines to pay their bills, and unknown timings of the power cuts would be removed. But, more than that, it would help us in checking the power thefts,” said the official.
Elaborating, the official said that under this programme, a separate unique identity would be provided by the Powercom to all the electricity poles, transformers, and also to the individual housing units. “The information would be then feed into the computer which would monitor everything through SAP,” the official said.
Of late, the PSPCl had implemented major initiatives to control the theft of energy and scaling down T&D losses including shifting of low-voltage distribution system to high-voltage system, replacement of ordinary lamps with CFls (compact fluorescent lamps), addition of capacitors, shifting of meters outside consumers’ premises, upgradation and strengthening of the distribution system, and automated meter reading facilities.
Notably, such measures had resulted in dropping of the peak demand by about 1,000 MW (mega watt) and saving of 1,200 MUs (million units) annually. Despite these moves, the people in the state have come across various “innovative methods” for power theft. “Many devices have been made available in Punjab’s markets for the purpose which you can connect with the meter,” informed the official.
At the same time, the official said: “Information regarding power cut or shutdown will also be provided on the computer, and as soon the power to the particular area or unit cuts off, the modem, connected with the meter, would automatically switch off. And then, the computer would give the red signal following which the concerned officials would be sent to correct the fault.”
This is not all! With the commencement of the SAP, PSPCl’s senior officials at its headquarters in Patiala would also keep a close tab on its all employees.
“The senior officers can supervise the working of its employees through this system. They can also check the status of the work given to its employees online,” the official said.
Till the time the PSPCl is working on putting in place the system, it would provide all the technical training to its employees for SAP.