Pranab Mukherjee on India's power sector-V: 'Financial health of the DISCOMs extremely poor'

Showing a grave concern for the poor financial health of the DISCOMs, the minister has stressed upon the need to reduce the exiting high aggregate technical and commercial losses (AT&C). Calling the exiting levels as 'unsustainable' and also noting its limiting effect on investment by private sector in generation and transmission, the minister has called for a reduction in the levels of the losses.

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Moreover, regarding the strengthening of the distribution network, the finance minister has suggested various measures that can be initiated, like energy auditing and accounting, separation of rural and urban feeders, control of theft, improving power procurement, rationalizing the price of power and privatizing distribution in urban and industrial areas, particularly where the AT&C losses are high.