IPCL lines up first tranche of investments to beef up distribution infrastructure in Bihar

“We have submitted an investment plan of minimum Rs 33 crore to upgrade infrastructure and induct new power distribution technology to  the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) and are awaiting a formal approval before we implement the capital expenditure program,” Hemant Kanoria, chairman, IPCL said.

“ Our focus is on industrial requirement for which distribution capacity is being scaled up and this will be followed up certain changes in network like installation of LT-Aerial Bunch Conductor which will ensure quality of power supply, improvements in reliability and safety,” Kanoria said.

In June 2014, IPCL’s wholly owned subsidiary-- India Power Corporation (Bodhgaya) Limited entered into an agreement with South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) for a 15-year distribution franchise for supply of power to Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Manpur areas in Bihar.

Dwelling on the legacy challenges that would need to be addressed by the private sector power discom, Kanoria said that since the time of takeover, the management team of experts had identified core areas which would need management and investment interventions to ensure quality service to the customers of Gaya.

He said that these included overloaded distribution network, un-maintained and obsolete equipment, significant overloading or unbalanced load, single source of supply and hence poor reliability, multiple voltage networks on single pole and highly unsafe network.

Kanoria however added that it was still too early for IPCL to track any changes in power demand profile and future projections of power from consumers but added that aggregate consumption of power in the command area had gone up with increase in hours of supply even as sector wise demand had not changed since the company had taken charge of distribution in the region.

The IPCL key management team had been directed to keep the customer as the key focus area for all systemic and process changes while ushering in paradigm shifts in distribution, Kanoria said.