Cabinet go-ahead to ₹1,600cr power infra upgradation – EQ Mag Pro
Panaji: To reduce power loss and boost Goa’s power infrastructure, the state cabinet on Thursday granted approval for spending over Rs 1,600 crore, including central fund. Of this, the state government will spend over Rs 700 crore for power loss reduction, over Rs 400 crore for modernisation and over Rs 450 crore for installing 7 lakh smart meters..
The state cabinet granted approval to the electricity department’s action plan and detail project report (DPR) for availing funds under the revamped distribution sector scheme initiated by the ministry of power for various projects proposed under loss reduction, modernisation and smart metering infrastructure with anticipatory budgetary support of over Rs 750 crore from the central government.
To reduce power loss, the state government will upgrade substations, replace transformers as also the 33kV overhead network to underground cabling, install nitrogen injection fire protection system, set up a relay testing lab, and install CCTV cameras, among others
Under the scheme, the department has proposed to install around 7 lakh smart meters in prepaid mode covering all consumers and system meters with a total estimated DPR value of over Rs 450 crore. The meters will be installed in TOTEX (CAPEX + OPEX) mode as per the guidelines issued by the ministry of power.
The cabinet note said that the advantage and benefit of smart meters will support department officials to improve meter to cash cycle, improve operational efficiency through reduction in operational cost and better service delivery. The consumer will benefit due to availability of granular consumption information and faster complaint resolution. This will also pave the way for adoption of ToD based tariffs for more consumer categories.
The prepaid smart metering will be implemented in a phased manner for consumers from higher slab to lower slab. The rent on the prepaid smart metering will be cross subsidised with consumers from the higher slab absorbing more rent and with minimal burden on consumers in the lower slab.
The state government will support the installation of prepaid smart meters in all government departments, attached offices, local bodies, autonomous bodies, boards and corporations, among others.
The state government has authorised the secretary (power) to approve any suggested minor changes, revisions by monitoring committee, nodal agency while approving the action plan and DPR to avoid delay in going back to DRC.
“The contribution of the state government in the project cost (excluding 60% grant from the Centre) for projects proposed under the scheme for system strengthening and modernisation of the distribution system will be made available by the state government,” the cabinet note said.
Source: PTI
