Latest news with #DISCOMs
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Suzlon secures 170.1 MW wind power project from AMPIN Energy in Andhra Pradesh
Suzlon has recently informed exchanges that the company secured its third consecutive wind energy project from AMPIN Energy Transition . The new 170.1 MW project will be developed in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, further reinforcing the companies' commitment to decarbonizing India's electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs). This partnership is a major boost to India's renewable energy goals and the Make in India initiative, showcasing the growing synergy between local manufacturing and clean power deployment. Suzlon and AMPIN's continued collaboration reflects a shared vision of accelerating the nation's move to a low-carbon, energy-secure future through innovative, locally produced wind energy solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, Suzlon will deliver 54 of its cutting-edge S144 wind turbine generators (WTGs) , each with a capacity of 3.15 MW. The turbines will be mounted on Hybrid Lattice Towers (HLT) , known for their superior efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The project scope includes comprehensive execution—from equipment supply and installation to commissioning and long-term operations and maintenance services—ensuring end-to-end support for the clean energy venture. JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group, said, 'India's decarbonization journey will be won or lost at the distribution level. DISCOMs are the critical link between renewable energy generation and everyday consumption—from industries to households. To empower them with reliable, cost‐efficient clean power is not just a goal—it's a national imperative. Together, we're proving that clean energy isn't just viable—it's vital, scalable, and transformative for the power sector.' This strategic partnership not only highlights the scalability of renewable energy infrastructure in India but also underpins efforts to make green power more accessible and affordable for industries across the country. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
APERC approves PPA, capital cost and tariff for Unit-2 of SEIL Project-1
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has issued a significant order approving the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and determining the capital cost and tariff for Unit-2 of Project-1 (660 MW) of SEIL Energy India Limited, located in Nelatur and Pynampuram of Nellore district. The order, dated June 17, 2025, addresses two petitions, one from APDISCOMs — APSPDCL, APEPDCL and APCPDCL — for PPA approval, and another from SEIL for capital cost and tariff determination for FY26-FY29. The 12-year PPA, effective from the approval date, was greenlit with conditions. APERC restricted power generation to concessional or zero-premium coal allocated under the Shakthi B(iii) policy, allowing DISCOMs flexibility to procure power using premium coal when needed. The obligation for DISCOMs to pay 70% of fixed costs during non-offtake periods or cover SEIL's Force Majeure costs due to political events was rejected.
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
After UPI & Aadhaar, Infosys' Nandan Nilekani Now Eyes Digital Overhaul Of Power Sector
Government of India launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) with an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 crore and estimated GBS from Central Government of Rs. 97,631 crore for the duration of 5 years i.e. from (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26). The Scheme aimed to reduce the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% and Average Cost of Supply (ACS)-Average Revenue Realised (ARR) gap to zero by 2024-25. The Scheme has two major components: Part 'A' – Financial support for Prepaid Smart Metering & System Metering and upgradation of the Distribution Infrastructure and Part 'B' – Training & Capacity Building and other Enabling & Supporting Activities. Financial assistance to DISCOMs is provided for upgradation of the Distribution Infrastructure and for Prepaid Smart Consumer Metering & System Metering based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmark in reforms.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Energy dept officials told to prioritise consumer service
1 2 Patna: State energy department secretary and chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power Holding Corporation Limited (BSPHCL), Manoj Kumar Singh, on Tuesday asked the officials concerned to treat consumer service as the highest priority. He stressed the need for professional competence, promptness and accountability in all operations. He was speaking at a review meeting attended by the managing directors of NBPDCL and SBPDCL, executive engineers and senior officials of both distribution companies (DISCOMs), convened to ensure uninterrupted and high-quality electricity supply during the summer and the upcoming monsoon season. Singh asked executive engineers to complete all pre-monsoon maintenance work in a time-bound manner. This includes inspections of 33/11 kV power lines, ensuring availability of essential materials, drainage systems in flood-prone power sub-stations, deployment of manpower, and vehicle readiness – all crucial to preventing supply disruptions during the monsoon. He asked all regional fuse call centres be thoroughly reviewed for operational efficiency. "Every consumer call should be logged, addressed and verified," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Como corrigir as bolsas nos olhos (Faça isso todos os dias) Notícias | Beleza | Mulher Saiba Mais Undo Singh also ordered the installation of public information boards, the provision of dedicated Android phones for managing complaints, and ensured the availability of sufficient staff, materials and vehicles. Highlighting the importance of swift redressal, he said that complaints received through the 1912 helpline, social media and other channels must be resolved promptly. Officers were told to directly communicate with consumers, listen to their concerns and provide effective solutions. He also called for the organisation of billing-related grievance redressal camps at the block and panchayat levels. Reviewing energy accounting and revenue performance, Singh ordered prioritisation of feeders with more than 20% technical or commercial losses for corrective action. He also directed the physical verification of non-communicating and disconnected meters with faulty meters to be replaced within one week. He stressed that there should be no undue delay in issuing new electricity connections. Finally, Singh directed all DISCOMs to immediately prepare and implement a restoration standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure swift and efficient power restoration during emergencies.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Smart metering, smarter execution: need for strong implementation framework
The Smart Meter National Programme is a key component of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) that was launched in 2021 to improve the financial viability and operational efficiency of distribution companies ( DISCOMs ). With a focus on reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses to 12 per cent -15 per cent , the scheme aimed to deploy 25 crore smart meters by financial year 2025-26 to enhance billing efficiency, reduce theft, and improve real-time monitoring across the power distribution network. Large-scale deployment of smart meters can aid in enhancing the energy efficiency of India's power sector, thus playing an important role in the nation's clean energy transition. Equipped with advanced reading capabilities, smart meters enable real-time monitoring of electricity usage, flag billing anomalies, and provide accurate data for energy planning, thus strengthening demand-side management and prompting load optimisation. India is witnessing an accelerated deployment of smart meters: from a rather slow uptake till 2023, installations have surged sharply, reaching 2.5 crore by early 2025. But this renewed momentum does not imply that there will be smooth sailing ahead. The pace of smart metering was hampered earlier by factors like high installation costs, absence of adequate infrastructure for replacement of meters, consumer resistance due to perceived billing inaccuracies, and technical issues related to data acquisition and connectivity. Importantly, these issues are in addition to the on-ground execution challenges—especially the absence of regular monitoring measures and efficient maintenance practices—that have marred the past metering initiatives in India. Experience from past metering programmes Historically, metering initiatives at various levels of the distribution network in India have faced setbacks due to multiple factors, such as non-compliance with regulatory mandates, poor maintenance of meters, high upfront costs, and inadequate network upgrades. Efforts under various electricity distribution programmes, like the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP), its successor, the Restructured APDRP (R-APDRP), the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), and the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) aimed to improve metering for streamlining energy accounting and reducing losses. But meagre implementation resulted in inefficiencies and DISCOMs failed to leverage the metering data for loss reduction. A recent report by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on the metering status in the country as of March 2024 tracked the number of installations, but whether this translated into lower losses or improved accountability was not brought out. However, a field survey on the condition of distribution transformer (DT) meters across selected feeders, conducted by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) in 2018–19 had found that 19 per cent of the 542 meters surveyed were defective (the main issues related to loose wiring, burnouts, and partial displays, which rendered the meters ineffective). It also found that 40 per cent of DT meters were poorly maintained, had poor physical accessibility (for instance, they were surrounded by vegetation, or were mounted too high), or were compromised due to pest infestations. The key takeaway from past metering programmes, therefore, would be to give due recognition to continuous monitoring and timely maintenance measures, once meters have been installed. This means that DISCOMs need to invest in regular meter audits. Learning from consumers surveys on smart metering In a milieu where metering data lacked consolidation, smart metering was brought in for the crucial role it can play in improving energy efficiency by increasing metering coverage, reducing electricity theft, enabling automated meter reading, and improving power factor management to curb line losses. There have been some studies and surveys to understand how smart meters are doing on the ground. For instance, a consumer survey in 2022 found that nearly 60 per cent of smart-meter users expressed satisfaction, primarily appreciating the ease of bill payments and improved visibility of electricity consumption. However, the survey also flagged gaps in user awareness—many consumers lacked access to detailed billing breakdowns and were unfamiliar with using mobile applications associated with the meters. These findings highlight the importance of consumer education, user-friendly platforms, and trust-building for the success of smart metering initiatives. Looking ahead India's experience so far with metering initiatives underlines the significance of strong groundwork for effective implementation of such programmes. This calls for putting comprehensive monitoring systems and maintenance protocols in place, so that the performance of installed meters can be assessed and problems can be identified and fixed. In the context of India's ongoing smart-metering initiative, challenges specific to smart meters need to be addressed, besides fixing the fundamental implementation issues mentioned above. DISCOMs must establish mechanisms to support consumers in understanding and using the smart-meter technology effectively. Further, the phased deployment of smart meters must be accompanied by diligent third-party audits to ensure that the systems are operating efficiently. Simultaneously, consumers should be educated on how to use the data generated by smart meters and interpret the bills, while capacity building programmes should be conducted to upskill the DISCOM staff on this technology. (The authors work in the Energy Policy and Regulations group at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank. Mallik EV is a senior associate, and Rishu Garg heads the group.)
