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3.1
Introduction
While passing its first Tariff order the
Commission had recognized that the financial
health of the utility was in very bad shape and
which ultimately affected the efficiency of the
working of the utility. The Commission has
decided to adopt a gradual approach to rectify
the condition of the Board. The Board was
expected to achieve the targets set by the
Commission. There were many directives already
communicated to the Board for implementation,
and the Commission decided that all such
directives as are required for the betterment of
the condition of the Board have to be compiled
at one place.
3.2
Filing
Of ARR and Tariff Proposal
The Board was directed to file the ARR (in "A"
series forms) annually on or before 31st October
each year and tariff petition for ensuing
financial year (in "T" series forms) on or
before 30th November each year.
The information in “A” Series and “T” Series
forms were submitted by the Board in September
2002. The Commission has observed that late
submission of this information has delayed the
process of tariff review and this has ultimately
affected the finances of the Board. Also the
Board was directed to file the tariff petition
in Hindi, which was complied with by the Board.
3.3
Improvement Of Quality And Reliability Of Power
For Agriculture Sector
The Board was directed to provide adequate
quality power for agricultural sector. Although,
the Board has indicated that for improvement of
quality and reliability of power, the renovation
of LT infrastructure is an essential requirement
and for that the Board is trying to arrange
necessary finances from financial institutions
and have also prepared a plan for installation
of one thousand and one hundred 11 kV
capacitors during 10th five year plan. The
Commission has prescribed a return (C-14) for
monitoring the LT voltage in the villages and
the Board is yet to submit the comprehensive
information in this regard. Board has submitted
the LT voltages profile for only 25 villages.
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3.4
Proposal
for Determination of FCA Charges
The Board has submitted a comprehensive
proposals for determination of VCA charges which
includes the FCA and other variables. The
Commission has passed orders separately.
3.5
Information of Details of Security Deposit of
Consumers
The Board was directed to devise a procedure for
informing the consumers atleast once every year
the details of security deposit held by the
Board on the consumer’s behalf. Commission had
prescribed a proforma C-09 to be submitted to
the Commission on monthly basis with regard to
the region-wise status of the security deposit
held. Board has informed that about Rs. 385
crores are being held by it and the Board has
also adopted the practice of showing the amount
of security deposit in L.T bills.
3.6 Providing meter reading cards to all
the consumers
The Board was directed to provide the meter
reading cards to all the consumers and also a
proforma C-08 was prescribed to obtain the
status. As per last monthly return, submitted by
the Board with additional information of tariff
petition, about 81% consumers are still to be
provided with meter reading cards. TOP
3.7
Providing Meters to all Unmetered Connections
The Commission directed that all the unmetered
connections including agriculture be metered
within three years. Although the Board has
indicated that they have a plan for 100%
meterization in the State by 2004 and the action
in this regard has already been initiated, the
information provided in proforma C-04 by the
Board indicates that upto June 2002 about 72%
urban domestic, 84% rural domestic, 96% single
light point and 94% agriculture connections are
still unmetered. The Commission further directed
that:
3.7.1 No new connection to any consumer be
given without meter.
3.7.2 Progress of metering be submitted to
Commission quarterly
3.7.3 Meters installed for sample studies of
agriculture consumption be changed with
electronic meters and all further such meters
for sample study shall be electronic meters.
3.7.4 Selection of agriculture consumers for
sample study shall be representative of large,
medium, small consumers with open wells, tube
wells, river and with different cropping pattern
and number of crops, in proportion to total
number of consumers of aforesaid nature. Results
of such sample studies shall be the basis for
deciding load factor for 2002-03.
Although the Board has submitted a study on the
agricultural consumption for the various parts
of the State to the Commission alongwith the
tariff petition, the progress of the metering of
the unmetered connections has not been submitted
regularly.
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3.8 Schedule of Annual Maintenance/Overhaul
of Generators be submitted with next Tariff
Petition
The Board has submitted a comprehensive
scheduled for the year 2002-03 for
maintenance/overhaul of the generators in their
tariff petition. In the first tariff order it
was directed to submit the same with tariff
petition but the tariff petition itself was
submitted in the month of September 2002. Hence
the Commission directs that such schedule has to
be submitted atleast three months before the
start of the financial year that is by 31st
December every year.
3.9 Installation of Weightometers at
Powerhouses.
On the directions of the Commission the
Weightometes have been installed in Satpura
Thermal Power Station, Sarni and Sanjay Gandhi
Thermal Power Station, Birsingpur. The orders
for the installation of Weightomers at
Amarkantak Thermal Power Stations have been also
issued. The remaining weightomers be got
installed and the Board may ensure proper
functioning of the weightometers.
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3.10 Action to Reduce Transit and Stacking
Losses and Data on Actual Transit Loss be
Submitted with Petition for FCA Revision /
Tariff Determination.
The Board has submitted the details of the
transit loss and the assumptions of stacking
losses of coal with the tariff petition. The
Commission has directed to make available the
data for the whole year for the coal dispatch
and coal receipt to the Commission regularly.
3.11 Rates of power absorbed / purchased from
Captive Power Plants are required to be Approved
by the Commission:
The Commission has prescribed a proforma C-10
for the information in-respect of the energy
purchased from captive power plants on monthly
basis. The Board has indicated that there are no
consumers in the State from whom the Board is
purchasing power except some non-conventional
energy sources. However, the Commission directs
that the Board should seek the approval of the
Commission before making an agreement with any
captive power generator.
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3.12 Procurement of Power from any source or
entering into Agreement for the same shall be
with prior approval of the Commission
Although the Board has not made any new
agreement in this regard, the Commission directs
that procurement of power by Board/successor
utilities, from any source by entering into
agreement for the same shall be with prior
approval of the Commission.
3.13 As Allowed by GOI, Unutilized Share Of
CSEB should be utilized.
The Board has indicated in the tariff petition
that they are temporarily utilizing the 300 MW
power un-utilized by CSEB.
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3.14
Energy Audit And DSM
The Commission directed the Board to ensure:
3.14.1 Installation of meters on all 132 kV and
33 kV feeders by December, 2001. Installation of
meters on all 11 kV feeders by March 2002. The
programme be chalked out to install meters on
distribution transformers.
Although the Board was not able to adhere to the
time scheduled specified by the Commission for
installation of meters on 132 / 33 and 11 KV
feeders, it informed that by September 2002
cent percent 132KV feeders, 97% 33KV feeders and
96.5% 11 KV feeders have been installed with
meters. Notable exceptions are the following
districts:
Rajgarh 72%
Hoshangabad 81%
Ratlam 64%
3.14.2 Determination of actual T&D loss for all
regional H.Qs/City Circles within 6 months
In this regard the Commission has directed the
Board to submit the town-wise analysis of T&D
loss for all district head quarters on monthly
basis. The information received indicated that
the T&D loss with respect to energy input to
energy billed has been varying from 16.36% for
Chhindara to 79.7% for Morena. Some other names
of districts with exceptionally high T&D losses
are: Narsinghpur, Tikamgarh, Shajapur, Bhopal
City Circle, Rajgarh, Gwalior, Guna and Shivpuri.
3.14.3 Defective HT meters to be replaced within
7 days. Defective LT meteres be replaced in a
time bound manner and these should not be more
than 3% (In cities-1.5%) by March 2002.
The Commission has prescribed proformae C-06 and
C-07 in this regard to the Board. The latest
return received in the Commission for the month
of August, 2002 indicates that the total
percentage of LT stopped/defective meters is of
the order of 5.51% which ranges from 2.76% for
Rewa region to 12.89% for Gwalior region.
Although the Board had earlier submitted a
programme for replacement for LT
stopped/defective meters indicating that they
would achieve the target of 3% by September
2002, a lot is desired to achieve the target.
The Commission directs the Board to submit the
comprehensive plan for replacement of
stopped/defective meters to bring the total
percentage down to 3% and cities to 1.5% by
March 2003.
3.14.4 DSM Cell be opened and DSM programme be
finalised by December, 2001
Even after a continuous pursuance by the
Commission the Board is reluctant to implement
the DSM programme for industries on the excuse
that this would result in lesser consumption by
the industry and subsequently reduction in the
revenue of the Board. The units thus saved from
industrial sector may be sold to the agriculture
sector which is not profitable. It is indicated
in the petition that they have created a DSM
cell. The Commission directs the Board to
come-up with a DSM programme for all such areas
as are considered of high priority by the Board.
3.14.5 Energy audit of Power Stations, Offices,
etc. be taken up and programme be conveyed by
October 2001
Although, the Commission has been pursuing with
the Board to implement the energy audit of their
power stations, offices, etc. the Board has not
furnished any programme to the Commission. This
is a serious matter and the Commission will
proceed with action to impose penalty.
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3.15 Reduction in T&D Loss
To reduce the T&D losses the Commission directed
the Board to take the following measures:
3.15.1 Intensive checking be done to stop
direct abstraction of energy in Jhuggi clusters,
agriculture sector, unauthorised colonies,
etc. and
3.15.2 If abstraction of energy continues,
FIRs be lodged and culprits be apprehended.
The Board has taken-up a checking drive of
consumer installations and during the year
2001-02 the Board has checked about 13 Lakh
installations, out of which about 4.30 Lakh
cases of theft/irregularities were detected,
about Rs. 71 crore was billed and Rs. 61 crore
was realised. The number of cases in which the
FIR lodged were only 1621.
3.15.3 Install meters on all existing unmetered
connection of SLP and agriculture within next
three years.
This has already been discussed in para 3.7
above.
3.15.4 Monitoring of consumption of HT and LT
industries
The Commission has prescribed a proforma C-05
for monitoring the increase in the consumption
of LT industries. An increase of about 4% to 11%
has been found during the same months for years
2001 and 2002. For HT industries the Commission
has also prescribed the proforma which requires
the status of installation of check meters to
the HT consumers. The object of this quarterly
information was to see whether check meters have
been installed for HT consumers and also whether
any analysis is being carried out by the Boards
officers. The Board has submitted the monthly
consumption for all 1617 HT consumers for the
six month from March to September 2002 but the
status of installation of check meters has not
been intimated. The Commission directs the Board
to monitor the consumption of all HT consumers
by installation of check meters for atleast 3
months in a year and submit the findings
quarterly to the Commission.
3.15.5 Install electronic meters on all HT
consumers and LT industries. Defective HT meters
be replaced within a week.
The objective to enforce the installation of
electronic meters on all HT and LT industries
was to record the correct consumption, thus
saving the Board from loss in revenue due to
substandard metering. The Board submitted that
all HT consumers have been provided with
electronic meters and for the LT industries
about 90% of the consumers have been provided
with electronic meters. Board also tries to
replace defective HT meters in minimum possible
time.
3.15.6 Defective LT meters be replaced
according to a programme and total defective
meters as on 31.3.2002 should not be more than
3%.
This has already been discussed in para 3.14.3
above.
3.15.7 Cent percent meter reading of LT
consumers be ensured. Supervisory staff be given
programme for counter checking of the meter
readings done by Meter Readers.
Although, the Board has issued the circulars
with respect to the counter checking of meter
reading by the senior officers, the Commission
found that this area requires more attention of
the officers. The Commission directs that the
Superintendent Engineer of the Board should
prepare a schedule of sample checking of meter
readings by the senior officers. Results shall
be reported by the Secretary of the Board on a
quarterly basis to the Commission.
3.15.8 Area of meter readers be changed after
every 12 months
The Board in its petition has indicated that
after transferring the meter readers to other
places and engaging new meter readers on
contract basis, the complaints in regard to
erratic meter readings have minimized. Details
of reduction in complaints and increase in total
recorded sale of energy should be reported to
Commission. Now it is also necessary that every
alternate meter reading should be done by a
different team/person than the one who did the
reading on the previous occasion.
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3.16 Make Comprehensive Plan For Next 5
Years For Strengthening Transmission,
Sub-Transmission And Distribution System.
The Board has submitted a comprehensive plan for
next five years for system strengthening of
transmission, sub-transmission and distribution
networks with the tariff petition.
3.17 Show Distinctly its Share Of Expenditure
In All The Partnership Projects In The
Generation Expenses And To Account For Assets Of
The Same In The Books Of Accounts In Future
This has been discussed in details with the
Analysis of Tariff Proposal.
3.18 Furnish Details Of Written- Off Bad
Debts During 2000-01 And Cumulative Written- Off
Bad Debts Pending Adjustment During 2000-01.
This has been discussed in details with the
Analysis of Tariff Proposal.
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3.19 Prefer Monthly Claims Of Subsidy Against
Free Supply And Agriculture Tariff On The State
Govt.
The Board has not submitted any report on the
monthly claims of subsidy raised to State
Government against free supply and agriculture
tariff.
3.20 Collection Efficiency
The Board has indicated that they have achieved
92% collection efficiency during 2001-02 against
96% targeted by the Commission. This has been
covered in details with the performance review
of the Board. However, the Board must report to
the Commission every quarter the names of
Circles where the collection efficiency is below
90%
3.21
Disconnection of Defaulting Consumers
Although, the Board has submitted the status and
recovery of the arrears to the Commission, the
report on the action on the defaulting
State/Central Government consumer or their
undertakings has not been submitted.
3.22 Programme for Installation of LT
Capacitors to Agriculture Pump Connections be
brought in next Tariff Proposal.
The Commission has prescribed a proforma C-13 to
monitor the installation of HT & LT capacitors.
The Board alongwith the petition has submitted
the status of installation of capacitors at
various voltages as on June 2002, but no
programme for installation of LT capacitors to
the agriculture pump connections has been given.
The Board has requested Commission to allow a
period of further six month for installation of
capacitors of specific ratings with the
agriculture pump installation, otherwise the
agriculture consumer may be required to pay 10%
extra charge on applicable tariff. The
Commission has directed the Board to submit an
action plan for installation and capacitors at
33 KV, 11 KV and distribution transformers by
31st March 2003.
The Commission has observed that the compliance
of the directives of the first tariff order of
the Commission has been extremely slow and not
upto the mark. In-spite of sorting out various
practical difficulties through the discussions
with the Commission, the Board preferred
stalemate. The indifferent attitude of the Board
is totally unacceptable to the Commission even
considering the fact that the Board is presently
passing through a transitional period and
requires time to tune in with the regulatory
requirements. The Commission will be constrained
to initiate action under the provisions of the
Madhya Pradesh Vidyut Sudhar Adhiniyam-2000, if
the non-compliance of the directives of the
Commission continues without proper
justification.
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