IT-enabled meter reading, billing in 71 Bihar towns soon

PATNA: The Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited (BSPHCL) has initiated a process to connect 71 towns of Bihar through IT-enabled meter reading, billing and revenue collection under the centrally sponsored Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms (RAPDRP). This was made possible by chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh who inaugurated the programme, “Go Live”, in Hajipur through online from the main secretariat on Wednesday.
Out of the 71 towns, 33 would be under North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) region while the remaining 38 will be under South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL). Some of the selected towns, include Begusarai, Darbhanga, Chhapra, Gopalganj, Hajipur, Katihar, Khagaria, Saharsa, Purnia, Supaul, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Motihari (all under NBPDCL), Ara, Aurangabad, Banka, Bhagalpur, Patna, Nawada, Gaya, Sasaram, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Jehanabad and Jamui (all under SBPDCL).
The main focus of the programme is on actual, demonstrable performance in terms of sustained loss reduction. This would be achieved in two parts: Part A of the scheme envisages establishment of baseline data which includes consumer indexing, GIS mapping and metering of distribution transformers and feeders and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System/Data Management System (SCADA/DMS) in project areas having a population of four lakh. This part of the scheme also includes IT applications for energy accounting/auditing and IT-based consumer service. Part B of the scheme is for renovation, modernization and strengthening of distribution systems, said a senior BSPHCL official.
For Part A, the central government will provide 100% loan and for Part B, the loan amount will be 25% of entire expense. Power Finance Corporation/ Rural Electrification Corporation will be the agency disbursing the loans under the scheme. The entire amount of loan under Part A would be converted into grant, once the baseline system is established within three years from the date of sanctioning the project, said an official.
Recently, the chief secretary during videoconferencing had directed the officials concerned to complete the rural electrification work by next year. “All the remaining off grid villages should be connected with electricity,” he said. Singh said that the pace of revenue collection is still slow and directed the officials to expedite the work of 100% networking.