WBERC signs pact with Korea's KEPCO to reduce T&D loss

West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) on Friday signed an MoU with Korean power company, Korea Electric Power Corporation(KEPCO), to conduct a feasibility study to reduce transmission and distribution loss among power distribution companies in the state. The MoU was signed between WBERC Secretary J C Chakraborty and KEPCO GM Moon Taeok, in presence of state

power minister Shobhandeb Chatterjee. Chatterjee said KEPCO will submit its report in a month based on which a roadmap will be prepared. T&D loss is high for WESEDCL and CESC, he said adding "we can keep tariff low if this loss is managed properly".

CESC Managing Director Aniruddha Basu was also present at the event.

KEPCO said it will identify areas where it can bring innovation in reducing T&D losses.

WBERC deputy director T K Mukherjee said the KEPCO will carry out a research on the distribution facilities and inform WBERC of the results, including the actual reasons. The study would be free and not entail any cost, Mukherjee said.

WBERC Chairman R N Sen said West Bengal is the first state in the country to conduct such a study with KEPCO's help.

The commission also said the issue of implementation of High Voltage Distribution System and Smart Metering projects in the state will also be scrutinised