THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Feb 27: The electricity officials here are bracing for a fault-free electricity supply in summer.
The 2024 summer here had put the electricity officials on ‘heat’ following episodes of breakdowns, transformers ending up with loud thump sounds and consumers crying for restoration of power around midnight. It was a restless moment for both the electricity officials and the consumers.
Santosh Kumar, Executive Engineer of Electricity said, “We are on the job weeks ahead of the advent of the summer here. We keep our overhead wires free of getting bushed or covered by branches and leaves.”
Elongated branches of the trees and leaves resting on the overhead electricity wires are being trimmed, added Santosh Kumar.
Single and double circuits are being taken care of. The non-functional cables are to be isolated and operational ones are to be put in place.
Managing Load and Addressing Power Theft
2024 summer had seen earthing going hot and dry so much so that water tankers were pressed in to cool the system. Huge jute bags soaked with water were placed on the electrical equipments.
Santosh Kumar told this correspondent, “We are very particular about the issue of the earthing. Further transformers are being padded up with oil top up so that no transformer goes out of the oil.”
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Repair of transformers is underway as intense summer sees transformers becoming dysfunctional.
Reminded that severe summer doubles up consumption and electricity load to which Santosh Kumar said, “Electricity is stolen. Theft of electricity is a major offence. Consumers must not indulge in stealing electricity.”
Executive Engineer of Electricity further said, “Raids will be on and where consumers are found using higher kw of power beyond their prescribed one, are to face heavy penalty like 4,000 rupees for domestic theft, 10,OOO rupees for commercial and 20,000 rupees for industrial theft of kw.”
Once an FIR against power theft has been duly lodged, it’s not an easy task to compound it as well. The erring accused of electricity offence is to pay by all means.
About human crunch Santosh Kumar said, “We need 9 junior engineers but we are making do with just 2.”
Improvement in Connection Process and Smart Meter Installations
Reminded that getting an electricity connection is much easier for setting up ice cream plants but for domestic connection, an applicant moves from pillar to post to which this Executive Engineer of Electricity said, “We take note of every demand for connection. An ice cream plant is a kind of economic upward mobility. Higher officials monitor it since a plant is seen as an indicator of growth and employment. As for domestic connections getting late, there are factors. Some slackness is on the part of the electricity office. Some on the part of the applicant for the connection. The role of the Pragya Kendra is no less to be blamed. Here the operator feeds his cell phone number instead of the applicant’s cell phone number as a result when a call goes to the applicant from the electricity office, it’s not responded.”
He admitted there is a pendency of newer connections but it will be overcome by all means.
About the smart meter, Santosh Kumar said, “Smart meters are to be installed in the urban areas. A locality is seen as urban for the purpose of electricity if it is within a 1 km radius of either the national highway or the block office.”
60,OOO smart meters are to be installed. 3,500 have been completed. The installation of the smart meter is absolutely free. Old existing meters are to be replaced. Newer households will have it mandatorily, the Executive Engineer of Electricity added.
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Focus on Revamped Distribution and Govt Schemes
“Electricity is being reached at the hamlets of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Efforts are on,” informed Santosh Kumar.
About the much ambitious Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) which is a revamped distribution sector scheme Santosh Kumar said, “It’s 15 per cent only. It’s to be 100 per cent by 2026. Our focus is on the RDSS.”
There are quite a few schemes like PM Surya Ghar Yojana and Mukh Mantri Ujjawala Jyoti Yojna which aim at a holistic approach to electricity to the far end of the human habitat.
