Rising transmission, commercial losses spell trouble for MSEDCL consumers
   Date :26-Dec-2022

MSEDCL 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
Trouble for power consumers is brewing as the technical and commercial losses of State-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) have risen sharply during the first half of the current fiscal. The losses have risen by 3.87 per cent as compared to that during the same period last year. More worrisome factor is, increase in transmission and distribution losses in almost all 16 circles of the State-run discom, plus the three franchise areas. The average distribution losses are computed at 13.21 per cent for the current year (2022-23) as compared to 13.10 per cent in year 2021-22, indicative of gaps in the supervisory control on part of top bosses, said the sources.
Incidentally, the top bosses of MSEDCL had recently claimed that there is gradual reduction in T&D losses and attributed the same to improved use of technology and better administrative procedures. However, a look at the internal data with MSEDCL revealed that maximum losses were at Malegaon distribution franchise area, around 41.31 per cent to be precise, followed by 35.43 per cent under Thane franchise area. The data is for period from April to September 2023.
During the six months period, MSEDCL sold 60,338 ten million units of electricity during the year 2021-22 and same has increased to 65,664 TMU in current year's seven months period. For the same period, the transmission losses were 13.101 per cent during last half yearly period while it increase to 13.21 per cent, a variation of 0.11 per cent.
As to technical and commercial losses, the same were pegged at 14.58 per cent during year 2021-22 and same have increased to 18.46 per cent, a difference of 3.87 per cent to be precise. The steady rise in current year does not reflect any good news for the financial stressed discom, although it is touted as one of the best professionally run distribution company in the country.
On the earnings front, the MSEDCL kitty received Rs. 42,008 crore during last year which increased to 49,203 in 2022-23, means in 2021-22 it was 98.29 per cent and this year it is 93.96 per cent only. Again this reflects poorly on the realisation of revenue as same is in negative by 4.34 per cent. Although MSEDCL has launched a crackdown on defaulters, the same is not enough as only small time figures are targeted while big fish escape the dragnet.
Even the High Tension users, mostly industry and high power intensive units, have showed marked increased in usage from 22,209 TMU to 25,422 while in Low Tension sector, the power usage has increased to 40,242 TMU in year 2022-23 compared to previous 38,129 TMU. Akola circle has maximum 6.11 per cent rise in transmission losses while lowest is in Kalyan circle. Maximum improvement in performance on lowering transmission losses is seen at Thane franchise circle where reduction is around 6.77 per cent.
In all MSEDCL bosses needs to pull up their socks for bettering the performance in next six months period so that planned financial turn around is possible.