LESA to prepare a list of ‘maximum line loss’ areas

The Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) will prepare a list of areas that witness maximum line losses. The step is being taken to minimise losses and ensure proper recovery of dues from consumers.

“Some areas have been identified where line loss is above 50%. We want to bring it to below 15%. At present, power outages and local breakdowns due to transformer failure are common because of overloading. The entire system is affected because of some power pilferers,” said Ashutosh Kumar, GM, LESA.

Official records show that 35% of power supplied goes as line loss. In a way, an average Lucknowite gets 65% power supply of what he actually pays for.

The power scenario in Lucknow is not very bright at the moment with frequent power cuts and major sub-stations like Sarojini Nagar and BKT developing snags every now and then.

To ensure adequate power supply during summers it is essential to bring down power pilferage, said a senior official of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL).

LESA GM said, “We will fix responsibility of engineers to check pilferage and minimise line losses. If engineers fail to check line loss, they will have to face the consquences.”

“All such consumers who do not have legal power connections should be given legal connection and brought under the metering and billing system. This will help reduce power theft and line losses,” added Kumar.

The department will scrutinise transformer-wise connections. These will be verified physically, he said.

He has directed staff concerned to install meters on the premises of all consumers and ensure replacement of defective ones. The GM has also issued instructions to maintain online data of such consumers whose connections had been released, but bills were not being issued due to some reasons.