Kathmandu, May 23

With an aim to reduce electricity leakage in the distribution system, the government has said it will introduce a special programme in the budget for next fiscal to distribute smart meters in Kathmandu Valley and to all industrial sector consumers.

As per government officials, the project will design, supply and instal advanced metering infrastructure (smart meters and associated facilities) for the entire Valley and industrial sector.

Prabin Aryal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), informed the ministry has focused on strengthening the distribution system in core urban areas, including Kathmandu Valley, and industrial sector.

“We plan to upgrade the traditional metering system to smart metering system for Kathmandu Valley customers in the first phase and industrial sector consumers in the second phase within the next fiscal year.”

Moreover, NEA has also set a target to reduce electricity leakage by three percentage points this year to 13 per cent of the overall electricity supply.

As per Aryal, installation of smart meters in said areas will help improve network visibility and hence reduce or defer network reinforcement costs, improve management of power outages, improve connection processes and stop electricity bypass, reduce costs for micro-generation customers, reduce losses and improve customer service across a range of routine activities.

“Our ultimately goal is to increase customer satisfaction,” he added.

Moreover, government will focus on mini-grid system for rural electrification as per flagship programme named ‘Ujyaalo Nepal’ previously announced by the government. “Electricity supply will reach every household across Province 2 and 3 within the next fiscal,” he informed, adding that in next fiscal the NEA has targeted to improve transmission backbone system for interrupted power supply.

Aryal informed that the ministry has set a budget ceiling of Rs 115 billion for upcoming fiscal 2019-20.