Building consumer confidence,regular supply top priority: Powercom CMD

The CMD said his other areas of priorities were to ensure that the power distribution network was strengthened,the new power generating units were commissioned on time and making Powercom financially viable.

Admitting that the power distribution system in the state was already overloaded,Chaudhary said Rs 4,500 crore has been pumped in to smoothen the distribution and transmission systems. “Our endeavour is also to restore consumer confidence by not only providing them regular power supply but also see that their grievances are redressed effectively,” said Chaudhary,adding that Powercom plans to set up customer care centres and call centres in every town in the next one year.

“We are also planning a dedicated power complaint service through dedicated complaint numbers,whereby consumers can file their complaints and grievances,which would be speedily redressed. The service has already started in Ludhiana on a trial basis and as many as 1,300 complaints were received in the last two days during the storm. Most of the complaints have already been redressed,” he said.

If successful the plan succeeds,Powercom will introduce a dedicated number for registration of consumer complaints for the entire state. When asked about the steps being taken to ensure financial viability of Powercom,he said,saving power,reducing expensive power purchase,cutting on cash expenses and employee costs and ensuring release of subsidy from the government in time were among the measures being undertaken.

He said Powercom aimed at saving 500 to 700 MW of power this year. Besides,the aim was to save another 500 MW by introducing CFL all over the state,which could help the Powercom save about Rs 5,000 crore annually.