AGRA: Of the five state-owned power distribution companies in Uttar Pradesh , four have failed in the integrated rating for state power distribution utilities. The ratings were released by the Union ministry of power recently. All the four discoms have been given ‘C’ grade. The exception is Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (KESCO) which has been graded ‘B’. The rest four discoms are among the bottom eight.The report defines ‘C’ grade as “very low operational and financial performance capabilities”. The ratings are contrary to the claims of significant progress made by the state power department over past one year.On Thursday, the state Power Consumer Council demanded that chief minister Yogi Adityanath fix responsibility of the top management of these distribution companies as the state was heading towards a power crisis in future.A total 41 discoms of different states were rated in six categories on the basis of assessment of data on three broad parameters — operation and reform, external (regulatory) and financial.The Meerut zone discom, Pashchimachal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, was placed in the 35th place, Madhyanchal (Lucknow zone) was ranked in 37th position, Purvanchal (Varanasi zone) at 38th and Dakshinanchal (Agra zone) was ranked 39th. The four major power companies of UP are also at the bottom of the northern region index. The neighboring states of Rajasthan and Haryana have performed better.The Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited topped the list with two other discoms of the state at second and third place. The Uttarkhand Power Corporation Limited was in the fourth place followed by the discom of western Gujarat. The top five discoms were graded A-plus — very high operational and financial performance capabilities.According to the report, the evaluation parameters cover current levels of performance as well as relative improvement from year to year. The operational and reform parameters — Aggregate Technical and Commercial Losses (AT&C Losses), efficiency of power purchase cost, digital payment facility, etc. and carry a weightage of 52% out of 100 points. The financial parameters — cost coverage ratio, payables, receivables, timely submission of audited accounts, etc — carry a weightage of 33%. External parameters relating to regulatory environment, state government. subsidy support, etc have been assigned a weightage of 15%.Talking with TOI, chairman of UP Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad Avadhesh Kumar Verma said, “The state power management authorities made big claims of improvement but none of the four major discoms was able to attain more than 20 points out of 100 and got C grade. KESCO, which attained ‘B’ grade, is restricted to only Kanpur city. The four major discoms that cover all the 75 districts of UP did not satisfy any of the key parameters. We demand that the chief minister take cognizance in this regard and fix responsibility of the top management of discoms for poor performance. An improvement plan should be developed. In public interest, action should be taken against officials not able to deliver on the ground in time-bound manner”.

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