Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

State Reports (Vol.-III)
Study on `Impact of Restructuring of SEBs’
(g) Funding from international institutions like World Bank, ADB, etc., can
assist the State utilities in meeting the needed investments in the areas of
transmission and distribution. The rigorous examination and laying down
the series of steps to be taken would also bind the utilities in concrete
terms to the targets to be achieved;
(h) The number of consumers in Assam is about one million and there are
over 17,000 employees. Employees consumers ratio is very high at 1:57.
The number of DISCOMs and other restructured entities is five against
the single integrated SEB in pre-reform period. There is a shortage of
technical and qualified staff for many new positions to be manned
particularly in finance, commercial and HR functions. The justification for
creating three DISCOMs may be reviewed and these may be combined
into one or two DISCOMs. This will reduce the administrative difficulties
in manning the new companies;
(i) Loss estimation and loss reduction is a key area for the DISCOMs. As a
pilot study is being conducted by the consultants M/s
PricewaterhouseCoopers, the staff of the DISCOMs could be extensively
involved in the above exercise and imparted training in segregating
technical and commercial losses as well as investigating causes for
commercial losses;
(j) The top personnel in the Government as well as at the utilities level
should not be shifted too frequently. They must be retained for a
reasonable period so that there is stability in the process. The
independence in their functioning is to be respected. Also, mechanisms
need to be designed to hold the hands of those who are venturing on the
new path of accountability and result-oriented performance.
(k) The experience of Assam has shown that the schemes of franchisees in
rural electrification can take off creating more revenues and employment
opportunities.
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