Lucknow: Claims notwithstanding, it may be a tall order for the loss-ridden UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) to cut the mounting distribution losses (a euphemism for power theft) to half in next four years, even as the Centre has recently approved funds of more than ₹16,000 crore for the purpose, said people aware of the issue.
With poor collection efficiency and rampant power theft, the UPPCL’s technical and commercial losses in the state only rise further when it increases power supply to consumers, often neutralizing the gains (to a large extent) it makes by making efforts to contain the losses.
The UPPCL, in December 2021, forwarded a proposal to the Centre, seeking a financial assistance to the tune of around ₹50,000 crore under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS)-a reforms-based and results-linked scheme.
