Lok Sabha Question No. 425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-03
Subject: Loss of Electricity during Transmission and Distribution
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.425

## ANSWERED ON 03.02.2022

## LOSS OF ELECTRICITY DURING TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

425.   SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  loss  of  electricity  during  transmission  and  distribution  tends  to increase the cost of power;

(b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  quantum  and  percentage  of  power  lost during the process;

(c) whether  there  is  a  need  to  strengthen  research  and  development  activities  in power generation, transmission and distribution sectors in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(a) the steps taken by the Government in this regard so far?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) & (b) : Transmission and Distribution losses are the losses incurred in Electrical networks  due  to  reasons  including  heat  losses  and  billing  inefficiencies.  The  cost  of power generation depends on various factors including the type of Generation, Capital cost,  Finance  costs,  Cost  of  fuel,  Operation  and  Maintenance  (O&M)  costs  and employees & administrative costs.

As per the information available in the 'Report  on  Performance  of  Power Utilities' published by  Power  Finance Corporation (PFC), the cost of Power  to Distribution Utilities increased from Rs. 4.21 / KWh in the year 2017-18 to Rs. 4.73 / KWh in  the  year  2019-20,  in  which  time,  the  Aggregate  Technical  and  Commercial  Losses reduced from 21.50% to 20.93%.

(c) to (e) : The  Government  is  promoting  Research  and  Development  (R&D)  for  the Indian Power Sector through Central Power Research Institute (CPRI) and various R&D schemes. The Government has recently approved the proposal for continuation of R&D schemes in the Power Sector to be implemented through CPRI with an outlay of Rs. 112 crore.

..........2.

A Standing Committee  on  R&D  (SCRD)  in Power  Sector has been constituted  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Chairperson,  Central  Electricity  Authority  to identify and prioritize important strategic areas of R&D, which are to be implemented under 'R&D' schemes. The SCRD identifies leading Researchers and Domain Experts in diverse areas of Power Sector and engage them in the Research Schemes.

Technical Committees  in specific fields of power, namely, Thermal Generation, Hydro Generation, Transmission and Grid, Distribution & Energy Conservation,  have  also  been  constituted  to  assist  the  SCRD  in  evaluating  R&D proposals and monitoring of the R&D  projects till successful completion. The committees have representation from Academia, Industry, Utilities and Policy making bodies.

Further, Research projects from eminent Institutions across India like IIT Kharagpur,  IIT  Kanpur,  IIT  Madras,  IIT  Bombay,  NIT  Meghalaya,  NIT  Silchar,  CMET Thrissur, CPRI, have been supported on various thrust areas pertaining to Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Clean Energy and Renewables.

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