Minister Manohar Lal reviews the progress of RDS Scheme of Ministry of Power

Manohar Lal commends Haryana Government for reducing AT&C losses and strengthening the power distribution system

Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon scheme has received widespread appreciation across the country- Manohar Lal

New Delhi, Nov 08: Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, 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. Manohar Lal also praised the state’s “Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon” scheme, which aims to provide 24-hour electricity to villages. He highlighted that the initiative has received widespread appreciation across the country for its effectiveness and impact.

Manohar Lal was presiding over a meeting to review the progress of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), here today. Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij and Senior officers of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Ministry of Power, Government of India were also present in the meeting.

RDSS aims to improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers

The Ministry of Power, Government of India, launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (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 and reduce the ACS-ARR gap to zero by 2024-25. 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 (PFC) is the nodal agency for implementation of RDS Scheme in Haryana.

DHBVNL and UHBVNL achieved an A+ rating for two consecutive financial years

While reviewing the progress of the scheme, Union Minister Manohar Lal directed to expedite the process of awarding contracts and ensure their timely completion. He also emphasized the need to improve the Integrated Rating (IR) and Consumer Service Rating of Discoms (CSRD) by enhancing consumer satisfaction. The DHBVNL and UHBVNL have achieved an A+ rating for two consecutive financial years, 2021-22 and 2022-23, along with B and B+ CSRD ratings for the same periods. 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 progress of various infrastructure works of Discoms, fund utilization, smart meterting and other financial parameters and gave necessary directions to the concerned officers.

Rs 6695 crore sanctioned to Discoms under RDS Scheme

It was informed in the meeting that under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, an amount of Rs 6695 crore has been sanctioned to Discome including 1527 crore to UHBVN and 5168 crore to DHBVN. Out of Rs 5168 crore, an amount of Rs 3584 crore has been sanctioned for Faribabad and Gurugram smart distribution works.

Discoms successfully met a peak electricity demand of 14,662 MW during the current financial year

It was also informed that DISCOMs successfully met a peak electricity demand of 14,662 MW during the current financial year, from April 2024 to September 2024. In comparison, the peak demand during the previous financial year (2023-24) was 13,088 MW. To promote ease of living with electricity, the Discoms have introduced simplified and easy-to-understand bills for consumers. Additionally, SMS notifications of electricity bills are being sent to consumers in both English and Hindi for their convenience. Consumers are now able to avail themselves of automatic load enhancements of up to 10 kW, and connection charges have been simplified. Furthermore, an MOU has been signed under the PM-Surya Ghar Yojana for the installation of rooftop solar power plants.

Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department A.K Singh, Managing Director, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited Mohammed Shayin, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Managing Director, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited Dr Amit Kumar Agrawal, Managing Director, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd PC Meena, Managing Director, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited Dr Saket Kumar, Special Secretary Monitoring and Coordination Dr Priyanka Soni, Chairman BBMB Manoj Tripathy, Joint Secretary Ministry of Power Shashank Misra, Joint Secretary Mohammad Afzal, Director Santosh Kumar and PFC Saurav Kumar Shah and Kamalpreet were also present in the meeting.