Guwahati: Appreciating the Assam government in Dispur for the recent actions to improve the power sector scenario in the State, All Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA) urges State chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to take a comprehensive initiative so that the government-run power companies can perform efficiently.
The forum of graduate engineers, while lauding CM Sarma’s decision to reorganize the management of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL), and Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd (AEGCL), expresses hope that the new authorities would function responsibly.
Mentionable is that Sarma, in presence of State power minister Bimal Bora, State chief secretary Jishnu Baruah, top officials of three government-sponsored power companies with other dignitaries, recently emphasized on designing modalities to increase the revenue generations along with quality services to the consumers.
Expressing his concern over revenue losses, Sarma asked the power companies to be innovative and look for ways to increase profits. He cited some fraudulent consumers adopting dubious methods to reduce their electricity bills and many avoiding due payments, which has caused a loss of ₹ 300 crores per month. He directed the power companies to design modalities and plug the loopholes. The AAEA pointed out that the definition of fraudulent consumers should not get limited to the household consumers alone as many big industries are suspected to be involved with such evil practices. Unethical co-operations from a section of electricity officials/workers to those high profile consumers can not be ruled out, asserted the forum insisting on necessary vigilance against such anomalies.
“Assam government should consider enhancing the production of electricity to meet the peak-hour demand (nearly 2000 megawatt) of the consumers. It should also rigorously explore newer fields of renewable and clean technology like solar and wind power,” observed an AAEA statement adding that the transmission and distribution losses must be reduced drastically. The government (in consultation with the Centre) may think of endorsing the energy-efficient DC (direct current) electricity distribution system. Lately, it has been popularized in European countries, avoiding the centuries-old AC (alternating current) technologies, primarily for the reason of energy efficiency.
“Firstly, most of the home appliances like computers, televisions, mobile phones, music systems, battery operated baby’s play items, inverters, LED bulbs, electric vehicles, etc run on DC, and hence each item essentially needs an AC-DC electricity converter for functioning,” asserted the statement. Secondly, solar energy is always generated as DC power only. Wind power can be produced in both AC or DC modes. Moreover, it added, all the motor-run appliances like washing machines, fans, refrigerators, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, mixer-grinders, chimneys, dishwashers, dryers, etc can be operated by a DC source with required vaults.
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