Special program to reduce power distribution losses

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday told Parliament that a special program had been introduced to reduce the electricity distribution system losses.

Among the measures taken to reduce the losses are the implementation of loss reduction programs by the four Distribution Regions, the implementation of Automatic Meter Readings of heavy supplies.

He also said that installation of tamper proof boxes and sealing system at heavy electricity consumers are introduced to reduce non-technical losses.

Raids of unauthorized electricity consumers are also conducted by investigation units. He was answering a question raised by UPFA MP AHM Azwer in Parliament yesterday.

He mentioned that compared to 2000, there is a decrease of 0.40 percent in system losses. The percentage system losses of 2009 was 14.59 percent and in 2008, 14.99 percent.