State discoms record sizeable reduction in aggregate losses

Jaipur: Jaipur's electricity distribution company (discom) reduced its aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to 14% in the fiscal year 2024-25, down from 20% in the previous year. Similarly, Ajmer discom's losses witnessed a sharp fall from 15.49% in FY24 to 9.19% in FY25.

Though Jodhpur brought down losses by a healthy 7% to 15.27% from 21.8%, the wastage is still very high.

Explaining the reasons behind the decline, discoms chairman Arti Dogra said, "This operational improvement was achieved through strategic initiatives such as replacing faulty meters, enhancing feeder monitoring, and boosting billing efficiency."


She highlighted the intensified efforts to combat power theft by conducting regular field surveillance and inspections in high-loss areas, alongside stricter enforcement against illegal connections.

She also pointed to the growing adoption of solar energy as having contributed to the decline in losses.

The reduction in losses is anticipated to improve the financial health of the discom, which was struggling with significant losses due to pending govt subsidy revenue. However, industry representatives warned that the losses can return if there is a let-up in surveillance. Also, the discoms need to focus on high-loss zones, they said.

DD Agarwal, director of Samta Power, an NGO in the sector, said, "The focus should be on the zones that are reporting high losses. Also, political leaders should not get involved to save those who are drawing power illegally."

Agarwal said Jodhpur discom should be provided with more resources and a better strategy should be in place to curtail its high losses, which distort the overall performance of the discoms.

The losses of discoms directly affect the power rates, which are then passed on to consumers. Power rates in Rajasthan are already among the highest in the country.