R K Singh Reviews Draft Plan for Power Distribution Sector

R K Singh has reviewed the first draft prepared by the CEA for the Distribution Perspective Plan for the power sector in India.

Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh has reviewed the first draft prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for the Distribution Perspective Plan for the power sector in India.

The draft plan is the first-ever plan at Distribution level which has been prepared by CEA under the guidance of the Ministry of Power. Earlier, the Central Government had been preparing Perspectives Plans for Generation and Transmission Sectors under the aegis of the National Electricity Plan (NEP). The Distribution plan keeps the needs of consumers at the center of its focus.

During the review meeting, going beyond the infrastructure and technology, the minister laid emphasis on integrating the planned reforms and improved processes of operations into the Draft Distribution Perspective Plan.

This would enable the distribution sector to address all the people, process and technology-related aspects required for making the Power sector robust and resilient. The minister has also directed that a core group of ministry officials should study the power sector ‘Reforms 2.0’, which would be integrated with the said plan before it is released.

The efforts towards making a Distribution plan is aimed at sustaining the goal of 24X7 uninterrupted power for all with the increasing demand for electricity by consumers. The plan lays emphasis on 100% metering of all consumers and providing an electricity connection on demand. The plan also envisages frontier technology initiatives with an objective of providing reliable quality power supply to consumers.

Additionally, the plan also envisages conversion of all electricity consumer meters into smart meters in prepaid mode within the next three years. Smart metering would empower consumers with tools to help them conserve energy and plan their electricity usage in an efficient and optimum manner.

The plan anticipates an increase in distribution substation capacity by 38%, distribution transformation capacity by 32% and an increase in a different type of feeder lengths by 27-38% till 2022. The plan, once released, would be operationalised along with the states and their DISCOMs under the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism.

CEA is also preparing a Distribution Planning Manual for guiding DISCOMs for future planning. This is a step in the direction of developing Standards of Service for Power Sector in India.