Members of the Fact Finding Committee on ‘Implementation of Smart Prepaid Meters under RDSS in Dimapur’ constituted by the DUCCF, Dimapur District Gaonbura Association and Gaonburas Union Dimapur (SADAR) on June 3 in Dimapur. (Morung Photo)
Power theft accounts for 30-40 percent of total losses
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 3
According to the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) and Gaonburas of the district, it would be unwise on the part of the government to mandatorily install smart prepaid energy meters. “Instead give the choice to the domestic consumers to opt for either prepaid meter or to continue with existing meter,” they said.
The suggestion to give the domestic consumers the benefit of choice was contained in a representation the DUCCF, Dimapur District Gaonbura Association and Gaonburas Union Dimapur (SADAR) submitted to the state government through the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, on June 3.
The representation, claiming to represent the “apprehension and outcry of the general public,” reiterated a phased rollout of the smart prepaid meter project in the state by first according priority to government, industrial and commercial establishments.
While they acknowledged the high Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses the energy sector has been incurring, year after year, they said that the Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) can mitigate losses by improving distribution infrastructure like poles, wires and transformers.
Transitioning to smart prepaid energy from the post-paid system is a nationwide initiative of the Government of India being implemented through the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. It seeks to improve the electricity distribution sector, in other words, reverse energy and revenue loss.
Alongwith the representation, the three organisations also submitted a report compiled by the Fact Finding Committee on ‘Implementation of Smart Prepaid Meters under RDSS in Dimapur’ constituted to study the pros and cons of the smart prepaid energy billing. The Committee was composed of members from the three organisations.
The Convenor of the Fact finding committee, Dr Kahuka Sema, told a press conference that only transitioning to prepaid is not going to solve the problem. “Side by side, infrastructure has to be improved as well,” he said.
According to the committee’s findings, Nagaland has the highest AT&C losses in the country, averaging three times that of the national average. While it was not indicated in the report, the national average in 2023-24 was tipped at 17.6 percent.
As per its findings, theft of power is a major contributor to revenue loss, estimated to account for 30-40 percent of the total losses incurred by the DoPN. He said that the committee's findings was based on information from the department and from independent sources.
Other causes it cited included, irregular billing, “unmetered supply to villages under traditional system,” unpaid bills by government offices and quarters, and supply to consumers outside the state.
The Convenor acknowledged the state was implementing a project mandated by the Central government, which implied funds for improving generation and distribution infrastructure. While there is no wrong in it, he said that a large section of the consumers remain apprehensive and unaware of the perceived benefits of smart prepaid energy billing.
He held that it would be prudent on the part of the government to win the trust of the consumers first. “Take up awareness campaign, educate the public on the positives of the prepaid smart metering,” he said.
