Tata Power continued to record lower losses in its Odisha power distribution business during the first half of FY25.
According to an investor presentation filed on stock exchanges, Tata Power saw AT&C losses drop in two of the four discoms – TPCODL and TPSODL – during H1FY25 as compared with H1FY24. In the case of TPWODL, such losses remained at the same level. However, with respect to TPNODL, AT&C losses were higher. (See table)
According to calculations made by T&D India, the overall AT&C losses in Odisha, weighted by the quantum of electricity purchase, were 22.6 per cent in H1FY25 as against 23.9 per cent in H1FY25.
Aggregate electricity purchase across the four discoms, at 19,540 MU in H1FY25 was 3.9 per cent higher than 18,806 MU in H1FY24. Electricity sales grew at a higher rate of 5.2 per cent, by the same comparison. This resulted in lower technical losses of 18.5 per cent in H1FY25 as against 19.6 per cent in H1FY24. [Technical losses measure the deviation between electricity purchased and electricity sold.]
Tata Power’s distribution business in Odisha is run by four joint ventures – TP Central Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPCODL), TP Southern Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPSODL), TP Western Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPWODL) and TP Northern Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPNODL). In each case, Tata Power is a majority shareholder with 51 per cent equity stake with Odisha government holding the remaining 49 per cent.
In Odisha, Tata Power serves a population of around 4.15 crore spread over a geographical area of 1.54 lakh sqkm. The four Odisha discoms have a total customer base of around 9.48 million.
Infrastructure upgrade
As of September 30, 2024, Tata Power had installed a total of 8.34 lakh smart meters across the four discoms. Of these, TPWODL had the highest number – at 3.33 lakh – accounting for around 40 per cent of the total. The presentation also observed that as of given date, 33 lakh conventional meters were replaced by digital meters, and 753 substations were automated, across the four discoms.
Other distribution businesses
Tata Power is a distribution licensee in Mumbai (0.77 million consumers) as well as in Delhi (2.06 million consumers). While the distribution business in Mumbai is entirely owned by Tata Power, in the case of Delhi, it is through Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd – a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Power and Government of NCT. Tata Power is also a distribution franchisee in Ajmer, Rajasthan – managed through TP Ajmer Distribution Ltd – catering to 1.7 lakh consumers.
AT&C losses of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd fell to a remarkably low 5 per cent in H1FY25 from 7 per cent in H1FY24.
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