Now, onus of line losses on LESA engineers

Now, engineers would be held responsible for line losses in their area. After the report of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) in which Lucknow is one of the five top cities to have reported maximum lines losses, the UPPCL bosses have got into a huddle to solve the problem of line losses in the city. However, the officials said that the line losses had been brought down from 42% two years back to 38.45% at present but they were still on the higher side.

O n Fr i d a y, the Uttar Pradesh electricity Regulatory Commission had reprimanded Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) in view of dismal performance of state distribution licensees under reduction of aggregate technical and commercial losses.

LUCKNOW:

Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Ra j y a Vi dy u t Up b h o k t a Parishad Avadhesh Kumar Varma said, “The officials say that they regulatory body has the right to initiate action under section 142 of the Electricity Act 2003. The action against the engineers is essential because based on performance in reduction of aggregate technical and commercial losses, the UPERC has reduced the burden of regulatory surcharge on consumers through its order dated April 22 this year.”

He said a common consumer who paid honestly felt cheated when tariffs were revised to compensate the losses because of those who stole power and did not pay for the electricity they used. “The engineers know where the lines losses are maximum. With modern technol- ogy we can sort out the transformers where the line losses are maximum. Engineers must be held responsible and must be asked to pay for the losses,” he said.

GM LESA SK Varma said he had already issued directives to engineers to regularly check power supply and monitor areas where power theft was reported.