Latest news with #RevampedDistributionSectorScheme
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Centre gives Rs 900 per meter subsidy, says Karnataka Congress; calls BJP allegations misleading
BENGALURU: The Congress has defended the State government on the issue of smart meters under the Central government's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and called the recent allegations by BJP leader and ex-minister Dr CN Ashwathnarayan 'factually incorrect' and 'politically motivated'. The party's media cell chairman Ramesh Babu said, 'The government is implementing smart meters in a transparent manner. It is part of a nationwide effort to improve energy efficiency, reduce transmission and distribution losses. Under RDSS, the Central government provides a subsidy of Rs 900 per meter to all states.'' He said that Ashwathnarayan had accused the government by claiming that other states procure them at Rs 900 per unit. Dismissing the claims as misleading, he clarified that Rs 900 refers to the central subsidy, and not the cost of the meter. Ramesh Babu claimed that despite knowing the facts, Ashwathnarayan had deliberately misled the public. He pointed out the irony in the BJP's stance, that it was the BJP-led Karnataka government in 2020-21 that had rejected the same RDSS scheme. According to the KERC directive, smart meters are mandatory only for new connections, excluding irrigation pump sets. For around 3 crore consumers, the adoption of smart meters are optional.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
West region discom approves Rs 23k crore budget for FY2025-26
Indore: Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited (MPPKVVCL) on Monday approved an annual budget of Rs 22,966 crore for the financial year 2025-26. The budget was approved by company's board of directors in a meeting in Indore which was virtually attended by energy secretary and company chairman Avinash Lavania from Bhopal and other members. During the meeting, Lavania praised the company's performance and emphasised the need to further enhance effectiveness of smart metering Scheme. Decisions were taken on various issues like employee welfare, new recruitment processes, projects under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme and Smart Grid System, and nomination of new board members. Of the total budget, Rs 22,346 crore has been allocated for revenue expenses, while Rs 620 crore has been earmarked for capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects. A significant 91% of the total budget will be spent on electricity procurement. Company managing director Anoop Kumar Singh presented insights into the ongoing efforts to reduce losses, improve consumer services, plans for metering in rural areas, smart metering initiatives, and departmental investigations. The approved budget underscores the company's commitment to strengthening its infrastructure and enhancing service delivery to consumers in the region, the MD said. Last financial year, the company's budget was of Rs 21,161 crore.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nagaland rolls out smart prepaid meters
Dimapur: The Nagaland power department has rolled out smart prepaid metering and loss reduction measures across the state as part of the ongoing power reforms initiative under the Govt of India's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Elaborating on the power reforms at the Dimapur District Planning and Development Board meeting on Monday, executive engineer (power), Dimapur, Er Lhuvoyi said the RDSS aims to reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses to 12–15% by March 2026 and bridge the gap between the average cost of supply and average revenue realised. He said under the state action plan for smart consumer interface, 18,000 smart meters had been sanctioned for Kohima, Dimapur and Chumoukedima. Lhuvoyi said smart prepaid meters are expected to yield several benefits, including energy conservation, reduced outages, flexible tariff options, better financial planning for consumers, and easy online recharge. The department also highlighted the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in Feb 2024, which promotes rooftop solar installations in residential areas.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Power demand rises in Tamil Nadu, but only 39 of 216 substations set up in three years
CHENNAI: Even as power demand keeps rising in Tamil Nadu, the state has managed to build only 39 new substations in various voltage levels like 765kV, 400kV, 230kV, 110kV and 66kV in the past three years. In 2021 the former electricity minister (V Senthil Balaji) had announced that the government would build 216 new substations of various capacities. According to the policy note of the Energy department for 2025-26, the total number of substations in four voltage categories (765kV, 400kV, 230kV, and 110kV) increased from 1,063 in 2022 to 1,102 by March 2025. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) Chairman and Managing Director J Radha Krishnan said that setting up new substations depended on the financial situation of the board, and acquiring land, especially for 400 kV substations, has become a major challenge. Nearly 15 acres of land is needed for 400 kV substations. He said that despite the challenges, the department has managed to get land in delta districts and also in Ambattur for 400 kV substations. He added that land has also been identified in Sengipatti near Thanjavur and a few other locations. 'We are planning to build 71 new substations in the coming months as part of the centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. In the first phase, we will require an amount between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 1,500 crore,' he said.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Probe ordered into frequent shutdowns by Lucknow's CG City substation
A week after Uttar Pradesh energy minister AK Sharma found during a surprise inspection of the 33/1kV1 kV CG City substation near Raj Bhawan in Lucknow that more than 10 shutdowns had occurred in a single day there, he has ordered a probe to find out the reasons for it. He flagged the situation as a serious operational lapse, raising concerns over frequent power cuts faced by residents despite government directives for uninterrupted electricity in the state capital. Citywide audit of substations on Following the CG City inspection, the minister directed a broader audit of all substations in Lucknow that recorded more than one shutdown in a day. Sharma emphasised that such patterns are indicative of wider systemic inefficiencies, stating, 'If a substation takes more than one shutdown in a day, it directly reflects the multiple power cuts endured by residents, which is unacceptable in the capital city.' Chief engineer, (Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA), Ravi Agarwal, said all directives issued by the energy and urban development minister will be implemented. As per him, significant improvements have already been made in the power department's response mechanisms. 'This year, the reaction time to attend to faults has been shorter and the duration of power outages has reduced as compared to previous years,' Agarwal further said, highlighting efforts already underway to enhance service reliability and minimise disruptions for consumers. Infra upgraded, yet shutdowns persist The LESA has invested over ₹400 crore under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme to modernise the city's power infrastructure. Despite these upgrades, recurring shutdowns remain a concern. Officials warned against complacency The energy minister issued strict directives to power distribution company officials, warning them against complacency. 'Stop sitting inside offices—go to the ground, inspect substations and address the problems firsthand,' Sharma told discom staff. He also hinted at more surprise inspections in the coming weeks to ensure accountability. Officials have been ordered to ensure that no feeder experiences more than one shutdown at a time. One of the shutdowns under scrutiny was reportedly executed for the permanent disconnection of a temporary connection—raising questions over the planning and necessity of such outages. Additionally, feeders with excessive load are to be rebalanced immediately to maintain a consistent and stable power supply. Zero tolerance for frequent outages Strict warnings have also been issued against frequent tripping, low voltage issues, and unnecessary shutdowns. Officials have been told that such service disruptions will no longer be tolerated, as the administration pushes toward delivering uninterrupted electricity to all corners of the city.
