Dharwad: Hubballi Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) managing director Bharati D said that the agency was coming up with many effective measures to reduce loss in power transmission. From 24.5% in 2009, loss in transmission had been reduced to 13.25% in the current fiscal year. “In the next fiscal year, Hescom has set itself a target to reduce loss of transmission to 11.5%,” she said.
At a meeting at which representatives of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) were in attendance, Bharati elaborated on the measures taken to reduce loss of power. “Officials have been directed to attend to complaints of problems with transformers within 24 hours, and all complaints from consumers are looked into within a day’s time,” she said.
She said that as many as 33 workshops had been set up, in addition to 54 transformer banks, under Hescom’s jurisdiction. “Hescom has already procured 3,262 transformers. Hescom aims to set up five more centres for repair of transformers this year. As part of the Ganga Kalyan Scheme, Hescom has succeeded in ensuring supply of power to 2,453 irrigation pumpsets,” Bharati said.
Hescom, the MD said that, had identified 46,645 households that were not being supplied electricity. “Under the ‘Belaku’ scheme, we have already managed to supply power to 29,611 houses,” Bharati said.
She pointed out that Hescom had incurred losses of up to Rs 251 crore owing to damage to its equipment. “In accordance with the guidelines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Hescom is entitled to compensation of Rs 181 crore,” said Bharati, adding that Hescom had been given only a sum of Rs 31 crore. “But, Hescom has spent a sum of Rs 141 crore on restoring damaged infrastructure,” she said.
Bharati added that Hescom was serving as the nodal agency to help set up charging stations for electric vehicles. “We have identified government property in 274 locations where these stations can be set up. Hescom is ready to provide supply to these stations 24 hours once they are set up,” she said.