FUNCTIONS OF ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT

• Brief Introduction
• Functions and Working of Bill Branch and & Computer Section
• Functions / Working of Operation / Maintenance Branch
• Functions / Working of Workshop
• Tariff
• Issue of Theft & Proposals for Improvement.

Brief Introduction:

1. The Model Town Society is a Cooperative Housing Society registered under the Cooperatives Act 1925. It has been rendering valuable civic facilities to its members / residents since the year 1926 on SELF HELP BASIS. It would be pertinent to mention here that it has never taken any financial help from Government since its inception.
   
2. The Model Town Society has two types of consumers.
   a) Domestic 95%
   b) Commercial 5%
   
3. The Model Town Society purchases electricity at 11 KV in bulk from the LESCO and distributes in the scheme through its own network. The metering equipment is installed at Society’s 11- KV Panel Room.
   
4. There are three feeders feeding the Society namely;
   a) Garden Town Feeder from Garden Town GS. (4.5 MW)
   b) Kotlakhpat Feeder from Kotlakhpat GS.
   c) Model Town-III from Model Town GS. (2 MW)
   
5. The distribution network has been constructed by the Model Town Society inside the town and our own 11-KV lines, distribution, transformers, LT Lines, services and metering equipments have been installed. All distribution expenses are met by the Model Town Society. Distribution losses are also borne by the Society.
   
6. Electricity Department is headed by Senior Engineer (E) and it has four main branches. Recently one consultant has been hired to streamline the department and run it professionally. Following is their breakup: -

1. Maintenance / Operational branch : 1 SDO, 4 L/S, 11 Linemen, 7 ALM-I, 24 ALM-II, 6 SBA, 1 Store keeper, 1 Assistant Store keeper and 6 Drivers.
   
2. Bill Branch: 1 Meter Inspector, 6 Bill Clerks, 5 Meter Readers, 2 Ledger Clerk, 3 Bill Distributors / Peons, etc.
   
3. Workshop: 1 Foreman, 1 Winder, 1 Welder and 2 Helpers.
   
4. Computer Section: 1 Computer Operator and Computerized billing system through Contractor.

Function / Working of Bill Branch & Computer Section:

1. Meter Readers read the meters as per the monthly schedule in their respective blocks under the Supervision of Meter Inspector.
   
2. Reading are then sent to Computer Section.
   
3. Bills are printed by Computer Section according to the schedule and then forwarded to the bill branch.
   
4. Bills are then distributed through bill distributors and consumers deposit in following banks of Model Town (ABL, BOP, UBL, NBP & MCB).
   
5. After the expiry of due dates Computers Section prepares Disconnection lists of defaulters.
   
6. Any rectification / correction required is done by bill branch.
   
7. Procedure of New / Temporary Connections

• Temporary Electricity Connection:

• It is provided during the construction of house etc.
• Its security and bills are charged at commercial rates until the attainment of completion certificate from Engineering Branch.

• Commercial Connection / Marriage etc.
  • The booking of ground is obtained from Rent department.
  • Electricity Fee is deposited through challan For
    
• Procedure for Permanent Electricity connection:
  • The prescribed from (available from the Society Office) is filled and submitted along-with the test report.
  • The form is first sent to the record keeper to obtain report regarding membership of the applicant.
  • The forms are then forwarded to Engineering Branch for report and approval of the site plan, depositing of Municipal Charges and settlement of violation.
  • Another report is obtained from the Line Superintendent regarding the load position of the Transformer.
  • The file is then submitted to Senior Engineer (E) for Final approval.
  • After the approval the applicant is issued a challan form for depositing of dues by the Meter Inspector.

When dues (including security) are deposited the department installs the meter after its checking, sealing and pasting of stickers.

         8.  Procedure of Replacement of Defective Meters:

• Meter is checked by the checking team / Meter Inspector.
• If found defective a notice on the spot is issued.
• A challan form is issued to the consumer to deposit cost of meter and after the cost is deposited the meter is changed.
  

        9. Bill branch is responsible for processing the cases regarding all sorts of billing complaints.

      10.Checking of all the suspicious meters.

      11. Monitoring of WAPDA / LESCO billing and Line losses evaluation.

      12. Detection of theft of electricity.

a) In case of detection of theft of electricity an on the spot notice is issued.
b) A detection bill as per Electricity Act is issued and recovered.
c) The meter is replaced and its cost is recovered.
d) Review petitions are forwarded to Competent Committee/ forum for consideration & orders.

Functions / Working of Operation / Maintenance Branch:

1. The complaints of residents are received around the clock by Telephone Operator and redressed. A register is maintained to record all complaints.
   
2. Defective meters are replaced with new meters.
   
3. Replacement and rectification of defective service lines of consumers.
   
4. Verification of Test report and on site load before energizing the new connection.
   
5. Implementation of disconnections as coercive measure by any branch after the approval.
   
6. Maintenance and augmentation of all low tension (LT) and high tension (HT) lines.
   
7. Load balancing of all the distribution transformers.
   
8. Removal of defects in the distribution of network and installation of new transformers as per the requirement.
   
9. Tree cutting / trimming in the town.
   
10. Checking / rectification & replacement of street lights.
    
11. Fixation of transformers mounting trolleys in case of breakdowns and subsequent replacement of the damaged transformers.
    
12. Maintenance & repair of oil circuit breakers (OCB) trolleys at the panel room.

Functions / Working Of Workshop:

The damaged transformers are repaired in the work shop and on spot repair is also done by the staff as and when required.

Tariff:

Tariff schedule of the electricity is as following.

It is worth mentioning here that last Managing Committee reduced the rate by 0.40 Paisas per unit which covered the over heads.

Issue of Theft & Proposals for Improvement:

The matter of theft of electricity is the main issue of the electricity department and a number of cases are detected weekly by the checking team. The said consumers are then issued detection bills as per Electricity Act. In some cases FIR is also registered following are some proposals to improve the situation.

1. Appreciation Certificates & Cash Incentives be awarded to the members of checking team to encourage them.
   
2. No stern action was taken against the power stealers and many of them got away with it. Some even managed to have waived off their penalties which encouraged others to steal the electricity.
   
3. No effective action was taken against the staff members involved in the theft . A number of cases were sent to the Competent Authorities but nothing came out of it.
   
4. Indecisiveness to decide the pending appeals. / application by the consumers in the cases of theft of electricity is also a main source of increase in theft. A proper committee should hear and decide the cases regularly according to the rules without any discrimination. Political and non political interference to influence the decision of such cases must be stopped to ensure free, impartial and fair proceedings for all.
   
5. FIRs be lodged against the power stealers without any discrimination and in this regard the powers be delegated to the concerned department. The registration of FIR is a good deterrent and can bring good results. Unfortunately this deterrent has been used for ulterior motives in the past.