Manohar Lal Khattar reviews progress of power distribution scheme

Presiding over a meeting to review the progress of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) here today, Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar commended the Haryana Government for its significant efforts in reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and strengthening the power distribution system over the past decade.

During the financial year 2023-24, AT&C losses in Haryana have been reduced to 10.8 per cent. Khattar also praised the state's "Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon" scheme, which aims to provide 24-hour electricity to villages. He said the initiative had received widespread appreciation across the country for its impact.

State Energy Minister Anil Vij and senior officers of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Ministry of Power, Government of India, were also present at the meeting.

The Ministry of Power, Government of India, launched the RDSS in 2021 with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers, while ensuring affordable power through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector. The scheme also aims to reduce AT&C losses to a pan-India level of 12-15 per cent. With a total outlay of Rs 3,03,758 crore, the estimated grant component of the scheme is Rs 97,631 crore. The Power Finance Corporation is the nodal agency for the implementation of the RDSS in Haryana.

Reviewing the progress of the scheme, Khattar said the process of awarding contracts should be expedited to ensure timely completion. He also emphasised the need to improve the Integrated Rating and Consumer Service Rating of Discoms by enhancing consumer satisfaction. DHBVNL and UHBVNL have achieved an A+ rating for 2021-22 and 2022-23. In addition, the minister suggested that for the convenience of consumers, separate electricity bills should be generated for domestic and commercial categories.

The Union minister also reviewed the progress of various infrastructure works of discoms, fund utilisation, smart metering and other financial parameters, and issued necessary directions to the officers concerned.

Under the RDSS, an amount of Rs 6,695 crore has been sanctioned to discoms, including Rs 1,527 crore to UHBVN and Rs 5,168 crore to DHBVN. Of Rs 5,168 crore, an amount of Rs 3,584 crore has been sanctioned for Faribabad and Gurugram smart distribution works.