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| Fails to achieve 100% metering after missing 2009 deadline | | PDD likely to face tough days ahead | | Avinash Azad
Jammu, Jan 31: The Power Development Department (PDD) has already failed to implement State Electricity Regularity Commission's (SERC) directive for hundred percent metering for domestic as well as commercial connections, the Power Development Department (PDD) has sought some time to meet its target.
Official data available with Early Times reveals that the SERC in its directives issued to PDD had asked to complete hundred percent metering of its existing consumers by December 31, 2009.
Astonishingly, the utility (PDD) after lapse of around eight years, has failed to meter the connection of its consumers in urban areas of the state. "For the purpose, the Central Government had allocated Rs 1,909 Cr under Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP), in which 10 percent would be funded by State Government and remaining to be funded by grants provided by Government of India (GoI) in five tranches", the data reveals, adding that for the purpose PDD was also exploring an option of funding form Ministry of small towns having more than 4000 population.
Even though the J&K Electricity Act, 2010 has set the deadline for achieving 100% metering by April 2010, the Utility requested the SERC to extend the same owing to the problems faced by the utility at ground levels. "Considering the petition made by utility, the commission vide its order dated April 2012, has further extended the deadline for achieving 100% metering to June 2013", the documents reveal, adding after its failure to meet its target the PDD has again requested the commission seeking more time.
"The utility faces several difficulties in metering due to the presence of several un-registered consumers, replacement of defective/faulty meters and reluctance by existing un-metered consumers. Hence it has proposed that it will be able to meter all consumers in the state by end of the Multi Year Tariff (MYT) control period that is FY 2015-16", PDD had requested to SERC.
"The utility has been provided sufficient time for metering consumers in the state, 3 years have elapsed from the passing of the J&K Electricity Act, 2010 and the PDD has made no progress so far in metering its consumers. The utility has asked to submit a comprehensive metering plan duly approved by the State Government before the completion of existing deadline that is June 31, 2013," SERC directions to PDD read.
It further said that in case there was any more delay in the proposed metering duly plan approved by the State Government, it would invite penal action against JKPDD under the provisions of the act and the relevant regulations of the J&KSERC (Multi Year Tariff Distribution) Regulations, 2012. |
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