Kavre braces up to reduce electricity leakage

Published On: December 28, 2019 11:34 AM NPT By: Madhusudan Guragain

BANEPA, Dec 28: Kavre Distribution Center of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that it has been successful in controlling electricity leakage as per target.

"We have been successful in retaining the leakage to 17.9% in first quarter of this fiscal year," said Ranjan Raj Gurung, head engineer at the center. The leakage rate in Fiscal Year 2018/19 was around 30%.

Now, the regional office of NEA has given the distribution center a target to reduce the leakage from 17.9% to 14.94% by the end of the current fiscal year. "In the past, target couldn't be met as there was leakage from various districts. The geography of the district also made it difficult. But we got additional support from the central and regional offices of NEA this time, which helped us reduce leakage," said Gurung.

In the last year, there was only one distribution center in Banepa for the entire district. From mid-October of this fiscal year, a new center was established at Panchkhal. Total 44,437 new households got connected to the NEA grid after the Panchkhal center was established.

"By mid-November, Rs 40.65 million has been collected in electricity revenues this fiscal year, of which Rs 1 million is from leakage control,” added Gurung. According to him, rural municipalities and municipalities also supported the distribution center's effort to recover dues from defaulting consumers by cutting their electricity supplies. “Elected officials are supporting us fully. We have also added more transmitters to handle power load,” said Gurung.

NEW SUBSTATION AT KHOPASI
Meanwhile, a new substation of 33/11 KVA capacity is being established at Khopasi. It will help electricity supply in Khopasi, Pasthali, Sankhu, Dhunkharka, Balthali, Kamidanda, and Bhugdeu areas.

"For the time being, we have started operation of the substation at lower capacity. In future, its capacity will be increased according to demand. We will soon open tender in this regard," said Gurung.

“After establishment of Khopasi substation, big factories can be established in Panauti municipality and other rural municipalities. The initiative of Kavre Distribution Center is going to help transform Panauti into an industrial village,” said Bhola Thapa, president of Panauti Chamber of Commerce and Industry.