Power distribution losses in 2012-13 around Rs 69,108cr

Distribution losses, including theft, have caused a staggering Rs 69,108 crore damage to power utilities in 2012-13, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. These losses include distribution losses including theft of electricity, gap between average cost of supply and average revenue realisation, inadequate metering, poor billing and collection efficiency, the Minister said in Rajya Sabha.

The aggregate losses, after tax on accrual basis, incurred by utilities selling directly to the consumers was Rs 69,108 crore during 2012-13, he said while replying to a question during Question Hour.

The Minister said the transmission loss was the highest in Bihar at 54.63 percent and the lowest in Kerala at 9.13 percent followed by 9.53 percent in Himachal Pradesh. He said peak power shortage in the country reported by states during April-January period of the current fiscal stood at 7,006 MW. "As on February 21, 6,114 MW capacity of power plants is under planned maintenance.

2,479.9 MW of state-owned power generating capacity is presently under renovation and modernisation," Goyal said.