Bescom team studies IT initiatives of Maha discom

A team of officials from Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) visited Mumbai and extensively studied the Information Technology-based initiatives of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Mahadiscom) for two days, which they are keen to replicate in Karnataka.

The team from Bengaluru comprising Bescom Director (Finance) Guru Prasad, General Manager Satish Kumar and Deputy General Manager Ramdas visited Prakashgad, the headquarters of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board and the MSEDCL data centre at Bandra, and some facilities at Nashik and the satellite township of Navi Mumbai.

The team met MSEDCL Managing Director Ajoy Mehta, Director (Projects) P U Shinde, Director Operations Abhijit Deshpande and Chief General Manager (IT) Yogesh Gadkari.
“Both the sides shared notes and held extensive deliberations,” MSEDCL spokesperson Ram Dotonde told Deccan Herald on Wednesday.

As far as the implementation of the IT-based functioning in energy sector is concerned, Maharashtra has the numero uno position.

“We shared with them what we have done in implementing IT. At the same time, we would also be learning from them. In the future, there would be reciprocal visits of IT teams of both the sides,” he said.

“Mahavitaran (MSEDCL) is far ahead in IT enforcement and there is a lot to learn about the various initiatives implemented by them, including the billing system, online application for new connection, energy audit, infrared and radio frequency meters and computerised meter reading,” Guru Prasad said while wrapping up the two-day visit.

According to Dotonde, the radio frequency meter has been quite successful. “The RF meters with hand-held sets can take meter-readings with near cent per cent accuracy of all meters within a 30m radius...this has been highly successful,” he said, adding that the automatic and centralised meter reading, which is being implemented in Pune and Navi Mumbai, was also showcased to the team.

He said Mahavitaran was supporting power companies from Assam and Uttar Pradesh in implementing the IT schemes.

“The managing director has assured Bescom of supporting them on similar grounds,” he said.