By Our Correspondent in Bhubaneswar, February 10, 2015 :

The Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses in energy sector seems to be coming down at a snail’s pace. Against 56.71% in 1999, the ATC loss in 2012-13 has come down to 42.25% only against national average of 25.38%, according to energy minister, Pranab Kishore Das.

ATC loss is the difference between the billing and collection. In other words, it is the difference between units input into the system and the units for which the payment is collected.

Replying to a question by Congress MLA, Naba Kishore Das, the minister sai told the Assembly here, the four power Distribution companies [Discoms] in the state have spent Rs 1981 crore to reduce the ATC losses in 14 year from 2000-01 and 2012-13.

Discoms have taken steps like, introducing Aerial Bunched Cable replacing the open wire, introduction of franchisees to beef up efficiency   level, replacement of overloaded transformers and line with high power transformer or the new ones, energy audit of transformers, conversion of single phase line to three phase, setting up of energy courts and police, introduction of Meter Reading and Testing [MRT] squad among others.

The Reliance Infra managed three Discoms have spent higher amounts compared to the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission [OERC] managed Cesu. Nesco has spent about Rs 754.78 crore since 2000-01 and its ATC loss has come down to 36.52% in 2012-13 the lowest among the Discoms, the minister’s written reply revealed.

Wesco has spent about Rs 479.73 crore and has been able to reduce the ATC loss level to 40.64% while at the same time Southco spent about Rs 393.86 crore and the ATC loss is pegged at 46.39% – highest among the Discoms.

Cesu spent Rs 353.48 crore in the last 14 years to bring down its ATC loss level to 39.52% in 2012-13.