Utilities in the power distribution segment are embracing new technologies, driven by the need to lower losses, ensure proper energy accounting, enable data-driven decision-making and deliver better services to end consumers. In conventional distribution equipment […]
The Ministry of Power (MoP) has recently notified the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, laying down the minimum standards of service for power supply to consumers across the country. The rules, which put consumers […]
In a key development this month in an effort to privatise distribution, Tata Power has won the bids for two more discoms in Odisha. The company has received the letter of intent (LoI) for Western […]
Metering is a crucial area for distribution utilities as it is the first step towards energy accounting and revenue generation. So far, system and consumer metering has progressed well in the country though some states […]
The issue of power subsidies for the agricultural sector has engaged Indian policymakers for a long time. According to the World Bank’s estimates, almost 14-42 per cent of power sold in India is accounted for […]
Operational and financial inefficiency in the power distribution segment has been a long-standing challenge. Aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses in the distribution segment currently stand at 22 per cent, as per official estimates (the […]
India has achieved a 100 per cent household electricity connection rate. However, providing reliable quality power on a regular basis is an ongoing challenge and an evolving process for the Indian power sector. In order […]
Smart metering has shown immense promise during the Covid-19 crisis. The lockdown did not allow utilities to take meter readings and send accurate bills to consumers, leading to delays and revenue loss. Smart metering solutions […]
Meter data management systems (MDMSs) help in the consolidation of data from meters, analyse the data trends from meter readings and resolve issues of meter tampering, outages, theft, etc. Broadly, an MDMS imports the data […]
Smart meters are a key element of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). An AMI system can detect electricity theft and component failure. It also permits remote disconnection and facilitates prepaid metering, which has proven to increase […]
The past year was marked by several important policy and regulatory developments across various segments in the power sector. A key development was the notification of the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which proposes reforms […]
Electricity distribution continues to be the weakest link in the power sector. High aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, poor billing and collection efficiencies and delays in tariff hikes have significantly deteriorated the operational and […]
Over the years, the power distribution segment has been plagued with issues such as weak financial performance, high operational losses and poor customer service. Private participation has often been suggested as the solution for all […]
The power procurement strategies of distribution utilities are undergoing a structural change as they increasingly encounter challenges with long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). For a long time, discoms have relied on multi-decade-long PPAs, with a […]
The Covid-19 crisis has posed widespread challenges for discoms as the decline in demand has led to revenue losses and liquidity concerns. The pan-India lockdown to control the spread rendered the commercial and industrial (C&I) […]
The power distribution segment has witnessed a series of central initiatives in the past few years aimed at improving the financial and operational health of discoms. The key amongst these is the Ujwal Discom Assurance […]
Smart meter adoption is an integral part of the modernisation efforts in the power distribution segment. Smart meters play a key role in aggregate technical and commercial loss reduction, renewable energy integration, demand forecasting, load […]
Power distribution utilities are increasingly adopting new and advanced technologies to improve operations. For equipment such as cables, switchgear and distribution transformers (DTs), they are introducing various safety and efficiency improvements. They are also undertaking […]
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