NO.H.11019/26/10-JERC    

 JOINT ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION

    FOR MANIPUR AND MIZORAM

    AIZAWL : : : MIZORAM

D-31, M.G.Road, Upper Khatla

Aizawl,Mizoram-796001

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                                                                                                                                            Email: jerc.mm@gmail.com

                                                                                                                        Dated Aizawl, the 12^th  August, 2011

 

MINUTES OF THE 6^th MEETING OF THE STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: MANIPUR

 

Venue                   :        State Guest House, Manipur

Date & Time        :        Thursday, 21^st July, 2011, at 10:30 am.

 

            List of the participants appended.

 

            At the outset, Mr. C. Hmingthanzuala, IAS (Rtd), the Chairperson of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Manipur and Mizoram, who is also the Ex-officio Chairman of the State Advisory Committee (SAC) for the State of Manipur, welcomed the Members of the newly constituted SAC and other invitees present in the meeting and briefly narrated the duties and functions of the Committee in broad outline as laid down in the Electricity Act, 2003.

 

            The new Members of the Committee including Mr. A. Chhawnmawia, Secretary, JERC who joined the Commission recently, were then introduced to the Committee by Mr. N. Shyamsundar Singh, Chief (Engineering), JERC.

 

            After the introductory formalities, the Chairman drew the attention of the Members to the Agenda note which was circulated to each of the Members earlier and took up the Agenda one by one for detail discussion in the meeting.

 

 

 

Agenda 1.   Confirmation of the Minutes of the 5^th Meeting of the SAC held on 15^th January, 2011.

            The Chairman sought the consent of the Members to the Confirmation of the Minutes of the 5^th Meeting of the Committee which had its focus on the Tariff Petition filed by the Electricity Department: Manipur for determination of retail tariff for the Department. After obtaining nod from each of the Members, the Chairman declared that the Minutes of the 5^th Meeting of the SAC stand confirmed without any change.

 

Agenda 2.   Transmission & Sub-Transmission

            The Chairman then initiated discussion on the next Agenda on Transmission, - both Inter and Intra State Systems, and Sub-Transmission System of the State and briefly highlighted the relevance and pertinence of the item for discussion in the Meeting, keeping in view the revised schedule of commissioning of the two ongoing generation projects in NER namely, the Thermal Power Project (3x250 MW): Bongaigaon (NTPC), Assam and the Gas Based Power Project (2x363 MW): Palatana (OPTC), Tripura from which the State of Manipur shall get an allocated share of about 50 MW of power.

 

            The Chairman expressed the desire to know from the Department the preparations made so far to receive the additional power from these projects that will start commercial generation in a year or so and requested Mr. H. Bihari Singh, Member, JERC who the Chairman felt, would be in a better position to explain and interact with the Members and other officials of the Department to go deeper into the details and further the discussion in the interest of the Committee.

 

            Mr. H. Bihari Singh, Member, JERC informed the Committee that the State will have 400 KV Transmission System for its future requirements. However, at present the State is drawing power from the NER Grid through 3(three) Nos. of 132 KV Inter-State Transmission lines. Two of these lines i.e. Leimatak – Jiribam 132 KV Single Circuit (S/c) line and Leimatak-Yurembam-Dimapur 132 KV S/c line, are owned and maintained by the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) and the remaining one from Yurembam to Mao by the State. The State has another 132 KV Inter-State line from Leimatak to Jiribam which has been lying unused for more than a decade due to theft of conductor. These four lines shall be used initially for drawing the already allocated share as usual and also the additional power from the newly coming up projects. The principle of sharing through displacement shall also be applied as & when required by the situation. Revival of this Leimatak – Jiribam Inter-State line is therefore a prime important for import of the allocated power in full.

 

            These arrangements are inevitable as the construction of the 400 KV line in between Imphal and Silchar where the interconnecting 400 KV lines of the generating stations shall pass through and the associated receiving 400/132 KV Sub-Station at Imphal, is going to take time. The gestation period for 400 KV system (line & sub-station) is 36 months.

 

            Therefore, the Member, wanted to know from the Department the arrangements made for improvement of Inter-State transfer of power as well as enhancement of reliability of the system.

 

            Admitting that the Inter-State Transmission System was not adequate enough to draw even more than 60 MW of power from outside the State, Mr. N. Sarat Singh, CE(Power), Manipur who was invited to the Meeting, informed the Committee that, with the commissioning of the 200 MVA 220/132 KV Sub-Station at Dimapur in the early part of this year, the State of Manipur can now draw around 80 MW of power from outside through Dimapur. Additional 80 MW of power can be drawn from outside the State through Jiribam when Leimatak-Jiribam line of the State is recharged. In the mean time, the Department and PGCIL have already taken up strengthening of the 132 KV lines by improving the jumpering system.

 

Regarding the Leimatak-Jiribam line, the CE(Power) informed the Committee about different problems of maintaining this line and that last year, the Department could do the renovative work of a portion of the Transmission line and successfully commissioned the 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Rengpang in Tamenglong District in early part of this year. He further added that the requisite line materials for restringing and renovation of the balance 40 Kms of the Transmission line, have already been procedured and the work at the field would begin as soon as the weather permits. He expressed the hope that renovation would be completed within the current financial year and restoration of power supply through this line would also follow soon.

 

            Taking part in the exhaustive discussion on re-stringing of the Leimatak-Jiribam 132 KV line, Mr. Arun Irengbam, Sr. Journalist wanted to know from the CE (Power), (i) the tentative date of completion of the 400 KV System being taken up by PGCI; (ii) the hindrances facing the restoration of the Leimatak-Jiribam 132 KV Inter-State Transmission line which remains unfunctional for over a decade now and the Department’s plan to tackle it; and (iii) exploration of possibility of maintaining the line in the same way as the PGCI has been doing it.

 

            Dr. L. Sadananda Singh, General Secretary, Senior Citizens for Society, Manipur suggested to move the State Government to provide security coverage over the very important State Transmission line.

 

            Mr. S. Rishikumar Singh, President AMEA, suggested to hand over the Leimatak-Jiribam line to the PGCI if the State Department finds it practically difficult to maintain it.

 

            Dr. Ch. Ibohal Singh, MIMS, MU suggested to adopt the same pattern as adopted while maintaining the long transmission line and also hinted at exploration of possibilities of community campaign/ involvement and channelising the process to make it effective & efficient. Mr. Arun Irengbam also endorsed the views and the suggestions of Dr. Ibohal Singh and felt that instillation of sense of ownership of the line in the minds of communities located alongside the Transmission line would be helpful for the Department.

 

            Mr. Basanta Wareppa of Human Rights Alert, also wanted to know about the further investigation initiated by the Department on the damages caused to the Transmission line, when dozens of FIR lodged with the State Police failed to yield any result.

 

            While noting down the valuable suggestions from the Members for future reference and applications, the CE(Power) assured the Committee stating that the State would be able to draw the entire allocated share of power comfortably once these arrangements are made and put into operation.

 

            Switching over to the issue of adequacy of the Capacities of the Intra-State Transmission and Transformation systems Mr. H. Bihari Singh, Member, JERC emphasized the need for augmentation of capacities of both the Intra-State lines and the Sub-Stations in view of the additional power being made available for the State from the new Generating Stations coming up in the region.

 

            In his assertion, the CE(Power) informed the Committee that, all the requisite items and accessories for the 132/33 KV, Sub-Station (2x20MVA) at Kongba, have been procured long before and 90-95 p.c. of assembly and erection of the E&M components of both the line and the Sub-Station have also been completed. The delay was due to right of way for a small section of the line. He assured that both the line and the Sub-Station would be successfully commissioned by November, 2011 and December, 2011 respectively.

 

            The CE(Power) further stated that the augmentation of the 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Yurembam would be taken up only after the 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Kongba is commissioned and it would take about one year to complete. This kind of sequencing needs to be maintained as the present 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Yurembam, which is distributing Power Supply of Greater Imphal and is the hub for power in the State, cannot be disturbed before making an interim alternate arrangement.

 

The Member, JERC expressed concern over the inordinate delay in commissioning of the 132/33 KV S/s at Kongba. He desired that M/s. BHEL, the implementing agency of Yurembam may be asked to reschedule and advance the commissioning programme.

 

On another query from Mr. N. Shyamsundar Singh, C(E), JERC the CE(Power) stated before the Committee that arrangements are being made for the replacement of the very old conductor in the Transmission network of the State with the special financial support from the NEC.

 

Referring to a specific case where the Department proposes to erect 33 KV Sub-Transmission line along the narrow corridor, Mr. Arun Irengbam stated that while taking up development work, it is also equally important to honour the public sentiment as far as practicable by the Department. The Member, JERC also endorsed the view and opined that the Department needs to take the general public into confidence before any initiative is taken.

 

The existing Sub-Transmission System was also discussed and it was considered that for the time being it is found adequate.

 

Agenda 3.   Energy Audit

            Initiating the discussion on the next agenda, the Member, JERC briefly explained why the energy audit is so important from the commercial points of view on which the emerging trend in the power sector always has its focus. The Member, JERC further informed the Committee that Energy audit provides the basic information about the loss of energy at a particular section or area and enables the service provider to take corrective measures – either technical or commercial depending upon the nature of loss. Therefore, loss reduction process begins with energy audit. The Department has yet to start effective/ meaningful energy audit.

 

            Taking part in the discussion, Mr. Arun Irengbam wanted a statement be placed from the Department as to whether the requisite steps are taken to put the System (of energy audit) in place and when it will be ready.

 

            Dr. Ch. Ibohal Singh also suggested that apart from Energy Audit, another approach like Energy Mapping may also be used primarily to categorise the industrial estates and consumers who need un-interrupted power supply so that the Industry sector may be encouraged and given the desired boost by providing with regular supply of power.

 

            The CE(Power) informed the Committee that a crude method of Energy Audit envisaging collection of information/ data from Regional Load Despatch Centre (RLDC) Shillong about energy injected to the State System and comparison of the same with the total receipt of energy by the consumers, is adopted to assess very roughly the quantum of loss of Energy in between the two ends. He admitted that this is not the proper way to audit the energy transactions and therefore, assured the Committee that the Department would launch a technology methodical energy auditing programme soon after the proper metering of the 132 KV, 33 KV and 11 KV feeders, Distribution Transformers and Consumers are over in a year or two.

 

            About the arrangements being made separately for the Industrial Estates, the CE(Power) informed the Committee that the Department has been looking into the practicalities of the proposal in coordination with the Industries Department.

 

 

Agenda 4.   100 p.c. Metering

            Coming to the next agenda, the Member, JERC informed the Committee that meaningful energy audit can be conducted only after the appropriate meters are provided at the feeders and transformers at different voltage levels and the consumers as well. Therefore, it was recommended that the Department advised constantly to give 100 p.c. metering immense priority. The new target date of completion stipulated by the Commission by March, 2013 should be maintained.

 

            Mr. S. Rishikumar Singh felt that T&D loss rate of 47 p.c. in the State is very high and therefore, further delay in completion of the metering and hence conduct of Energy Audit with a view to reducing the loss, would cost the State dear.

 

            While admitting that the completion of 100 p.c. metering is already delayed, the CE(Power) placed before the Committee the proposals that are prepared at an estimated cost of about ` 100 crore for taking up under different Centrally sponsored schemes and the State plan and submitted to the Government for accord of administrative approval. There are 4 (four) Schemes as per Annexure A. The Committee Members were of the view that the amount involved is quite large and arrangement of sufficient fund for timely completion of the schemes may be difficult.

 

Agenda 5.   Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) Loss

            In the State of Manipur, the AT&C loss is as high as 73 p.c. and it is the highest in the country. The issue was taken up next for extensive discussion by the Committee. The Member, JERC sought for pragmatic suggestions from the Members on how to address the chronic issue.

 

            Shri S. Chaothoi Singh, President, Manipur Industries Union suggested that the Department may think of extending the same kind of facilities as extended in the case of two villages – Ragailong & Namdailong (where power supply is given for 24 hrs a day), to other areas also so that the consumers are satisfied and ready to reciprocate.

 

            Dr. Ch. Ibohal Singh felt that in between the Distribution Transformer and the registered consumer, there is a substantial amount of energy loss and therefore, drew the attention of the Department to check the loss. Dr. Ibohal Singh also pleaded for introduction of Extensive IT network, use of underground and overhead cable wherever feasible and franchisees to enhance Department’s performance towards the consumers service.

 

            Mr. Arun Irengbam emphasized the need for critical analysis of the problem and suggested to seek the service and co-operation from NGOs, Local Clubs and Village Authorities in this regard. Shri Arun felt that Community involvement in detection and identification of the culprits would largely help the Department reduce loss and opined that constitution of a Sub-Committee to analyse the issue and find the details would be helpful.

 

            Mr. Basanta Wareppa felt that Local Monitoring Mechanism would be helpful.

 

            Mr. S. Rishikumar Singh felt that drawing attention of the MLAs to the problem under the advise of Minister of Power and organizing awareness programme at suitable places would largely help the Department solve the problem.

 

            Mr. E. Dolendro Singh, Advisor AMPCA, emphasized the need for the Government and the Department to be pro-active and serious enough while dealing with the affairs of the consumers whose expectations are perhaps completely ignored. Shri Dolendro contented that all the ills could be cured only when the service from the Department and the consumer expectations match up.

 

            Mr. N. Shyamsundar Singh, C(E), JERC also pointed out that the number of registered electricity consumers in the State as on date, is about 1.96 lakhs only and if the consumers in the hill districts are segregated, the number of consumers in the valley districts that have a total population of over 20 lakhs, is about 1.50 lakhs only. Therefore, the number of consumers in the valley districts is not commensurate with the population in these districts which are already declared electrified.

 

            Citing example of the State of Mizoram where there are 1.6 consumers against a population of about 9 lakhs, the C(E), JERC further stated that as per the prevailing demography the valley districts shall have about 4 lakhs of electricity consumers. It therefore, implies that more than 2 lakhs consumers have been enjoying electricity while the energy consumed by them remain unaccounted and major share of the commercial loss is because of this unaccounted energy. The C(E), JERC further informed the Committee that the Commission has already informed the Department about a year back to verify the estimation, detect the unauthorized consumers and get them registered following the admissible provisions of the Act and Regulations of the Commission in that regard.

 

            The CE(Power) stated that he took serious note of the suggestions offered by the Members and he would try to translate each of them into reality within a short period.

 

Agenda 6.   Billing and Manpower Requirement

            The Member, JERC informed the Committee of the complaints received from various corners of the State about the irregularity in serving Electricity Bills to the Consumers. Reportedly, Bills are not served to the consumers at their doorstep/ premises over the last several months and consumers need to go to the concerned Sub-Division offices to collect the bills and clear the dues. This is not desirable at all and is in contravention of prescribed Regulations – the Member, JERC added.

 

            Dr. Ch. Ibohal Singh also shared his views in the meeting that, considering the kind of the service the Department has been rendering, it may not be proper to put a common tag like “Payment Defaulters” to all the consumers, as there are several consumers who use to pay bills regularly. Dr. Ibohal wanted that Department to identify and analyse the pockets where maximum payments are due.

 

            Dr. L. Sadananda Singh also stated that the entire consumers community should not be tagged as “Defaulters” simply because the Department is not supposed to lose sight of the irregular/ non-delivery of the bills from its end.

 

            Mr. Arun Irengbam suggested that stringent actions be initiated by the Department against those employees who take part or indulge in the acts detrimental to the interests of the consumers and the Department. Mr. Arun also expressed the desire to urge the Department to investigate and find out the specific reasons attributing to non-payment of bills by the consumers.

 

 

 

 

            Most of the Members expressed the desire that the Department gets the meter reading and serving bills to consumers done through outsourcing.

            Mr. L. Priyokumar Singh, ACE(Power) also took part in the discussion and stated that efforts have been made to attract various agencies into the revenue collection process by offering incentives to the tune of 5 p.c. of the total collection. However, the Department has yet to find a suitable agency for the job.

            Regarding the poor billing, the ACE (Power) informed the Committee that at present the number of employees engaged in the billing (metre reading, bill preparation and distribution of bills) is only 321 even though the number of sanctioned posts is 526. The CE(Power) also added that most of the employees are very old and on the verge of retirement and their services cannot be made use of to the desire extent.

            However, the Member, JERC informed the Committee that as on date, there is no dearth of total manpower in the Department as it has more than 3200 employees and therefore, suggested that the Department may exercise for internal re-organisation of the existing staff to suit the requirement with the approval of the Government.

Recommendations:

            After the deliberations the Committee decided to make the following recommendations:

(i)        Electricity Department shall be asked to recharge 132 KV Transmission line from Leimatak to Jiribam by May 2012 and if necessary to move the State Government for security.

(ii)        Electricity Department shall be asked to Commission 132/33 KV S/s at Kongba by March 2012 and advance the commissioning of Yurembam.

(iii)       The Department shall start a Preliminary Energy Audit with the available meters.

(iv)      The assistance of Central funding should be targeted to achieve the 100 p.c. metering goal.

(v)       The Committee strongly recommended for distribution franchisee of selected area.

(vi)      Meter reading and bill distribution is outsourced;

(vii)     Electricity bills shall be served to the consumers on time; and

(viii)     Increase manpower requirement of commercial wing by reorganizing the existing staff.

            Before conclusion, the Chairman, thanked all the Members for taking part in the detailed discussion and also for offering valuable suggestions which may help the Department and the Consumers come out of the vicious circle. The Chairman expressed happiness and hoped that the Members would make it convenient to attend and participate in future Meetings also.

            The Meeting ended at 3:30 pm with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

 

Sd/ C. HMINGTHANZUALA

Chairman

State Advisory Committee Manipur.

 

 

Memo No.H.11019/26/10-JERC              :          Dated Aizawl, the 12^th August, 2011.

Copy to:

1. PS to Hon’ble Minister, (Power), Govt. of Manipur, Imphal for kind information of the Hon’ble Minister.
2. PPS to Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur, Imphal for kind information of the Chief Secretary.
3. PS to Principal Secretary (Power), Govt. of Manipur for information and necessary action of the Principal Secretary.
4. All Members/Special Invitees of the State Advisory Committee of Manipur for kind information and necessary action.
5. Guard File.

 

 

(A. CHHAWNMAWIA)

Secretary

 

List of Members and Invitees Present in the 6^th Meeting of the State Advisory Committee for the State of Maniupur held on 21^st July, 2011, Imphal.

 

1. Members:

1.    Mr. C. Hmingthanzuala,                                      -           Ex-Officio Chairman

 Hon’ble Chairperson, JERC (M&M)

 

1.  Mr. H.Bihari Singh, Hon’ble Member,               -           Ex-Officio Member

 JERC (M&M)

 

1. Mr. N. Radhachandon Singh,                            -           Member

Director, Industries Department

 

1.  Mr. Ng. Chittranjan Singh,

 Scientific Officer,                                                   -           Member

            for Director MANIREDA.                          

 

1.  Dr. O. Nobo  Singh

 Jt. Director, Agriculture Deptt.                           -           Member

 

1.  Mr. R.K. Balaram

 Labour Officer,                                                      -          Member

 Labour Department        

                                   

1.  Dr. Ch. Ibohal Meitei,                                           ­-           Member

 Associate Professor,

 Manipur Institute of Management

 Studies, Manipur University.

 

1.  Mr. L. Sadananda  Singh,

 General Secretary, Senior Citizens for -           Member

 Society, Manipur.

 

1.  Mr. Elanagbam Dolendra Singh,                     ­-           Member

 Advisor, All Manipur Power

 Consumers’ Association.

 

1.  Mr. Irengbam Arun, Senior Journalist,             -           Member

 All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union.

 

 

1.  Mr. S. Rishikumar Singh,

 President, All Manipur                                          -           Member

 Enterpreneurs’ Association.

 

 

1.  Mr. S. Chaothoi Singh,                                         -           Member

 President, Manipur Industries’ Union.

 

 

1.  Mr. P. Arun Kumar Singh,                                                -           Member

 President Consumers’ Club   

 

1.  Mr. Basantakumar Wareppa,                            -           Member

 Programme Executive, Human

 Rights Alert.

 

1.  Mr. A. Chhawnmawia,                                        -           Member - Secretary

Secretary, JERC for Manipur & Mizoram.

B.         SPECIAL INVITEE

      1.   Mr. N. Sarat Singh, CE (Power),

            Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

C.        INVITEES:

      1.   Mr. Shyamsunder Singh, Chief (Engineering),

            JERC for Maipur & Mizoram.

 

1. Mr. Richard Zothankima, Assistant Secretary,

      JERC for Maipur & Mizoram.

 

1. Mr. R.K. Kishore Singh,

A.C.E (P)-I,

Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. L. Priyokumar, A.C.E. (Power)-II,

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. Mr. Ng. Birjit Singh, SE (Elect),

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. Mr. S. Joykumar Sharma, S.E. (Elect),

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. Mr. J. Raghumani Singh, S.E. (Elect),

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. Mr. Ng. Sarat Singh, S.E./E.C-II,

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

 

1. Mr. Th. Aton Singh, S.E. (Comml),

      Electricty Deptt, Govt. of Manipur.

ANNEXURE - A

100% METERING

(a)      100% Metering at all voltage is compulsory now for the State utility as per directive guidelines of the State Regulatory Commission. With a view to achieving this the Department have already worked out the requirement of meters at all voltage level and prepared a scheme for the installation of electronics meters at the 132 KV, 33 KV, 11 KV, Distribution Transformers and at consumers level with an estimated cost of ` 14.72 crores for the following quantities in the 1^st phase.

 

 

            The above scheme has been submitted to the Government and approval of the Project Investment Board (PIB) is awaited.

 

(b)      Further, as electronics meters are to be provided as per CEA guidelines, the Department therefore has also prepared a scheme for replacement of all electro-mechanical meters with static meters at the total estimated cost of `40.47 crores for 754 nos. 3-phase 4 wire 99,073 nos. of 1-phase static meters. The scheme has been submitted to the Government for Administrative Approval.

 

(c)       The requirement as stated above is exclusive of pre-paid meters which is being introduced in Imphal as a pilot project. The scheme of Pre-paid Metering System is in an advanced stage of implementation. The work order for 4,000 nos. of 3-phase meter & 14,000 nos. of single-phase meter has already been placed, inspection for the material has been carried out and expected delivery in Imphal shortly costing about ` 30 crores.

(d)      Under R-APDRP Scheme where energy audit is compulsory (100% metering) proposal for the following energy meters:

            (i)        259 nos. of HT consumer, 72 nos. boundary (Export/Import) meters.

            (ii)        1,168 nos. of LT DT meters.

            (iii)       72 nos. of feeder meters.

            For procurement including installation as turn key work for 13 towns (identified as project area) of the State have been submitted to Government for approval and finalization of rate etc. at about ` 15.00 crores.

 

            With PIB approval of the schemes, implementation of various like R-APDRP etc. 100% metering of the system will be in place shortly.