The document outlines a 15-step roadmap for distribution companies in South Asia to reduce losses through initiatives like conducting consumer surveys, reviewing meter ratings, introducing smart meters and data systems, digitizing network assets, optimizing networks through actions like phase balancing and DTR sizing, conducting energy audits, and adopting IT systems. The applicable elements may vary between companies based on their current loss levels and needs, and ongoing adoption of the practices is needed for sustainability.

1. ROADMAP FOR DISTRIBUTION LOSS
REDUCTION…A STEP BY STEP APPROACH
D.Pawan Kumar

2. DISTRIBUTION LOSS REDUCTION..
A STEP BY STEP APPROACH..
Many distribution companies in south Asian region are going
through a reform process, given emerging regulatory and
competitive environment, adopting IT enabled energy and
revenue management practices, for loss reduction. A step by step
roadmap is presented as follows:
1. Initiating a comprehensive consumer load and meter survey,
followed by consumer indexing and digitization of consumer data
and revenue records.
2. Review of consumer meter ratings as relevant, for latest
connected loads, and introduction of pre paid meters for high
value consumers to begin with and full coverage eventually.
3. Introducing kVAh billing for consumers for better reactive power
management..
4. Introducing smart energy meters and meter data access system at
11 kV feeders and sub stations, to enable proper energy
accounting, and reconciliation.

3. DISTRIBUTION LOSS REDUCTION..
A STEP BY STEP APPROACH (..CONTD.)
5. Reporting, recognizing and rewarding reliability and loss
reduction among revenue divisions or at substation level on one
hand and energy efficiency initiatives among consumers on the
other.
6. Digitization and GIS mapping of network assets and revenues.
7. Phase balancing in network and DTR location review with respect
to load centers, to reduce LT line length and HT LT ratio
improvement.
8. Introducing and standardizing DTR sizes to 100 kVA max, to
reduce Ltline lengths and corresponding losses.
9. Introducing 5 star labelled DTRs in procurement standards.
10. Initiating an effective DTR Management program with guidelines
for procurements, locations, sizing, rewinding management, LT
line length minimization, meter and capacitor incorporation,
introducing AMR based energy meters at DTR level and
reconciling energy at DTR level,
11. Introducing fixed as well as switched LT capacitors at DTR level.
12. Feeder augmentation as warranted, based on network analysis.

4. DISTRIBUTION LOSS REDUCTION..
A STEP BY STEP APPROACH .
13. Initiation of energy audit of all high value consumers of Discom as
a routine and documenting consumption trends, norms,
benchmarking.
14. Energy accounting and loss reconciliation, reliability reporting ,
trending and benchmarking key performance indicators, once the
above steps are implemented .
15. Adoption of IT enabled customer relations management
practices and a suitable enterprise wide resource planning
system.
The applicable elements of roadmap may vary from Discom to
Discom based on current level of losses and needs assessed.
Rather than as a one time exercise, the adoption of loss
reduction and good practices would need to be internalized for
sustainability of Discoms,

5. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index) – a system index of average
duration of interruption in the power supply indicated in minutes per customer.
SAIDI = total duration of interruptions for a group of customers
Number of all customers
SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index) – a system index of
average frequency of interruptions in power supply
SAIFI = total number of interruptions for a group of customers
Number of all customers
ACS : Average Cost of Supply
ARR : Average Revenue Realization
ATC Losses: Aggregate Technical and Commercial Losses

6. • Network Analysis Modules: These enable DIscoms to perform actions for network
optimization and loss reduction through avenues like:
o Segregation of Commercial and Technical losses
o Integration with New connection module for checking the network capability,
augmentation requirement on upstream side
o Load flow and voltage drop analysis,
o Optimization studies like capacitor placement, network reconfiguration,
conductor up-gradation, express feeder, load balancing/ reallocation etc.
o Fault analysis and protection coordination
o Assessment of requirement of primary substations to meet load growth at min.
cost.
o Determine economic and break-even loading limit of conductors/cables.
o Optimum DT (new or augmentation) over a selected regions or nodes.
o Network design reports, cost estimates, financial analysis,
o Creating extensive “what-if” studies.