Maharashtra to invest Rs 11,000 cr in power distribution

Mumbai: Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd would invest Rs 1,100 crore in the next fiscal to upgrade 10 distribution division of the state. The investment would be undertaken in conjunction with United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pilot Project

MSEDCL has identified Nashik, Washi, Thane, Dombivali, Sangli, Akola, Warora, Kolhapur, Aurangabad (Urban)-II and Congress Nagar in Nagpur division for implementing the project.

It has already carried out a pilot project in Aurangabad Urban I division , under the Distribution Reforms, Upgrade Management (DRUM) programme of the USAID.

DRUM is a collaborative initiative of the Union Ministry of Power, USAID and various State utilities.

Addressing the media on Friday, Mr A B Pandey, Managing Director of MSEDCL, said that 11 substation and 300 transformers would be added under Aurangabad division. Call centre would be upgraded and automated meter reading systems would be introduced for high value customers. Similar plans would be implemented in 10 other division, he said.The bids for project would be opened soon.

DRUM

Under the DRUM program, MSEDCL has already has signed business partnership MoU with Morgan County Rural Electric Association and the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association of Colorado, USA for distribution business management and rural electrification.

The partnership will introduce standardisation and commercial management practices.