MAKING CONCERTED EFFORTS TO BETTER POWER SERVICES

With several power issues becoming an order of the day, the government has been making all-out efforts to mend the services by upgrading the infrastructure. Gandharv Walia explores

In order to put an end to numerous power issues, the government has taken up several initiatives, ranging from promoting use of the most efficient lighting technology to launching of mobile applications and websites to ensure accountability and transparency.

Whether it is power outages or delay in redressal of complaints, the consumers have been witnessing a long range of issues for a long time.

NATIONAL LED PROGRAMME

The National LED Programme was launched with the aim of promoting use of the most efficient lighting technology at affordable rates. This programme has two components, namely Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All (UJALA) and Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP).

UJALA aims to provide LED bulbs to domestic consumers with a target to replace 77 crore incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs while SLNP is making efforts to replace 1.34 crore conventional streetlights with smart and energy efficient LED streetlights by March 2019.

REVISING STANDARDS

The government has also revised standards for room AC, direct cool refrigerators, colour TV and geysers. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed with Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) to set up four testing labs for LED bulbs.

URJA APP

Urban Jyoti Abhiyan (URJA) App offers information on consumer complaints redressal, release of new service connection, average number of interruptions faced by consumers, average duration of interruptions faced by consumers, number of consumers making e-payments, energy lost / power theft i.e. AT&C loss, IT Enablement (Go-live of towns), SCADA Implementation, urban system strengthening, feeder data on National Power Portal, IPDS NIT progress, IPDS Award progress, etc.