Lucknow. Many cities in India have adopted the route of privatization to improve the power distribution system. Its main objective is to provide better services to consumers, bring technical efficiency and reduce the loss in distribution. Different models of privatization have been successfully implemented in states like Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat, where power theft has decreased and consumer services have improved. Odisha has become the first state to hand over the entire distribution area to private hands. In Uttar Pradesh too, power distribution has been being done by Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL) in Greater Noida for years, while Torrent in Agra is working under the Torrent Power Franchise model. However, the privatization plan in Kanpur has been stopped currently due to protests from employees. This indicates that privatization of power distribution is a sensitive issue, whose success depends on the state’s regulatory system, monitoring capacity and safety of consumer interests.
There is a need for modernization of electricity distribution in Uttar Pradesh so that uninterrupted and quality power supply to consumers can be ensured. Privatization should be seen as an opportunity where the trust of consumers can be won through technological upgradation, better management and accountability. It is not only a transfer of ownership, but an attempt to establish a reliable and efficient distribution system.
Learning from the experiences of Delhi, Gujarat and Odisha, the Uttar Pradesh government should formulate a transparent and accountable privatization policy that protects the interests of consumers and resolve the concerns of the employees. It is the need of the hour that Uttar Pradesh starts a new era in the field of electricity distribution, where modernization paves the way for a better future for consumers.
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