Anil Pattanayak, a vice-president of AES, says the company's decision to invest in Orissa is partly based on its confidence in Gridco. The privatization of electricity distribution will largely determine Gridco's viability. A private company, Bombay Suburban Electric Supply, or BSES, has won the right to distribute power in three of Orissa's four zones. Under the new system, BSES buys power from Gridco and sells it to consumers at rates the regulatory commission determines. Still, the company must outwit other freeloaders.
Some people use magnets to turn back the reading on the meter.
Others find that a strategically placed matchstick works as well. He reckons that the rate will soar as functioning meters are installed in every home and business. Shahi says he expects the company to begin making a profit in another two to three years, even though, like Gridco, it's had to absorb workers from the old electricity board. To date, however, there are few signs that the benefits of reform have trickled down to consumers. Villagers in Charbatiya complain that though they are now paying bills, the quality of power supplied remains uneven.