By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam,
Nov 30, 2012: Power allocation to the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Development
Corporation Ltd (APEPDCL), which
supplies power ro Vizag district has been minimal compared to that allocated to
other disoms. Amomg Tier II cities,
Vizag is next to Ahmedabad in attracting the highest investments, and trade and
industry stake holders are therefore concerned about district power allocation
at a time when the power situation is worsening.
According to the Electricity Regulatory Commission’s final transfer scheme only 15.80 percent
power has been allocated to APEPDCL, which serves the needs of five districts in coastal Andhra
Pradesh including Vizag, whereas 46.06percent has been allocated to the Andhra Pradesh central Power Development Corporation Ltd ( APCPDCL) which distributes power to seven districts, including state capital.
APEPDCL is responsible for undertaking distribution and bulk supply of power in the operation circles of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts and 20 Divisions of coastal Andhra Pradesh. It supplies power to over 49.7 lakh consumers belonging to different categories.
APCPDCL has consumer strength of 8 million and supplies power to Anantapur, Kurnool,
Mahboobnagar, Nalgonda, Medak and Rangareddy districts.
Though the APCPDCL’s consumers are 30 lakh more than APEPDCL, not even half the power
allocated to it is given to the latter. Industry heads feel that more power should be allocated to APEPDCL due to the presence of many industries in Vizag and its surroundings.
According to the Electricity Regulatory Commission’s final transfer scheme only 15.80 percent
power has been allocated to APEPDCL, which serves the needs of five districts in coastal Andhra
Pradesh including Vizag, whereas 46.06percent has been allocated to the Andhra Pradesh central Power Development Corporation Ltd ( APCPDCL) which distributes power to seven districts, including state capital.
APEPDCL is responsible for undertaking distribution and bulk supply of power in the operation circles of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, East and West Godavari districts and 20 Divisions of coastal Andhra Pradesh. It supplies power to over 49.7 lakh consumers belonging to different categories.
APCPDCL has consumer strength of 8 million and supplies power to Anantapur, Kurnool,
Mahboobnagar, Nalgonda, Medak and Rangareddy districts.
Though the APCPDCL’s consumers are 30 lakh more than APEPDCL, not even half the power
allocated to it is given to the latter. Industry heads feel that more power should be allocated to APEPDCL due to the presence of many industries in Vizag and its surroundings.
There are more than
500 micro small and medium scale industries and more than 50 major industries coming
under the purview of APEPDCL, beisdes many commercial establishments. Ironically APEPDCL
has the lowest allocation in the state. Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Development
Corporation Ltd (APSPDCL) was allocated 22.27 percent and its
northern counterpart APNPDCL 15.87 percent.
“Our discom APEPDCL has lowest losses of 7 percent, among all four discoms which are
separate companies. Other discoms have more than 15 percent why should we pay for thefts
in other 3 discoms. We can save Rs 4000crores of power by reducing losses in other discom
to our APEPDCL levels. Tariff, allocations and restrictions on usage of power should be
based on merit and losses but not same for all industries in different discoms,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association, vice president, O Naresh Kumar. He sought more allocation of power for Vizag.
“Our discom APEPDCL has lowest losses of 7 percent, among all four discoms which are
separate companies. Other discoms have more than 15 percent why should we pay for thefts
in other 3 discoms. We can save Rs 4000crores of power by reducing losses in other discom
to our APEPDCL levels. Tariff, allocations and restrictions on usage of power should be
based on merit and losses but not same for all industries in different discoms,” said Rushikonda IT Park Association, vice president, O Naresh Kumar. He sought more allocation of power for Vizag.
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