20 MVA distribution sub-station at Padumpukhuri, Dimapur. (For Representation/Morung File Photo)
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Special team formed to study ways and means of controlling power theft and improve revenue collection in the district
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 13
Dimapur district consumes more than 50% of the power that is being supplied in the State but due to “rampant power theft in the district, the overall power revenue is falling short,” according to the Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN).
There is an urgent need to control the situation, the department stated in a appeal published in local dallies on August 14.
The appeal, appended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Power and Information Technology & Communication, KD Vizo, ITS, further informed that the DoPN will be making “special effort to handle power theft and take measures to improve revenue collection in Dimapur District.”
‘Squad’ to check theft
To check the ‘rampant power theft,’ a special team headed by the Additional Secretary of Department will be visiting Dimapur district every forthnight to “study ways and means of controlling power theft and improve revenue collection in Dimapur district,” the DoPN said.
Apart from taking initiatives to control power theft, the team will be monitoring the attendance of both office and field staff in Dimapur and Chümoukedima Electrical Divisions, it informed.
In addition, the team will be educating the citizens of Dimapur to accept pre-paid metering system and adopt energy saving methods as well as how to pay for what they consume.
“As on date proper technical mechanisms are already in place and if power theft is controlled and proper energy saving methods are adopted there should be no overloading or load shedding in Dimapur district,” it maintained.
In this regard, the DoPN appealed all general citizens of Dimapur district to kindly extend their co-operation in controlling power theft so that “unnecessary overloading or load shedding can be avoided and the Department can extend better service to the important commercial town of Nagaland.”
Power scenario
According to Nagaland ‘Statistical Handbook 2020’ published by Directorate of Economics & Statistics, in financial year 2018-19, there were, 2, 87,372 consumers of various categories in Nagaland. The energy consumption during the same period was 639.49 Million Units (MUs).
Among others, it included 136734 Domestic, 22071 commercial, 4690 Industrial, and 1522 bulk, consumers, the Handbook said, citing Chief Engineer (Power) data.
According to the Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the number of consumers was projected to increase to 343,738 in 2020-21 and 369,146 in 2021-22.
Based on the approved Aggregate Revenue Requirement and revenue from existing tariffs at approved sales, the revenue gap of the DoPN is projected to be 293.91 Crores for the FY 2020-21, the NERC informed in its “Order On Review For The FY 2019-20 & Aggregate Revenue Requirement For The FY 2020-21 To FY 2024-25 And Tariff For The FY 2020-21.”
As per the NERC, with own hydel generation capacity of just 27.50 MW at Likhimro Hydro Power Project and other Micro Hydro Electric Power Plants (MHEPs), the power supply requirements in the State are met from its share from Central Generating Station (CGS) wheeled through the Power Grid Corporation Of India Limited network of the North East and power purchases from electricity traders/other sources.
