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The government will soon work on a plan to make electricity distribution grids 'smart', which may enable users to choose tariff plans and help distributors check power theft.
The power ministry would shortly be setting up an 'India Smart Grid Task Force', to be chaired by Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on innovation.
"The task force will be an inter-ministerial group and will serve as the government's focal point for activities related to the Smart Grid," Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said. According to experts attending the conference, the distributing firms can fix higher tariff rates for peak hours and lower rates for non-peak hours of the day with the help of IT.
For example, a user can cut her electricity bill by ironing clothes in a non-peak hour. Likewise, other high electricity-consuming appliances and gadgets can be intelligently used.
On the other hand, the generators and distributors can cut transmission losses, as the 'Smart Grid' will help them deal effectively with the problem of power theft.
Experts at IPMT said the 'Smart Grid' can be established by integrating the entire power distribution network with the help of advanced computers.
The ambitious project is already being tested on a pilot basis at some places as part of the revised Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Program (R-APDRP). Under the programme, the government has provided an IT-enabled platform for energy accounting and consumer service centres.
"A few well-thought smart grid pilots are envisaged under R-APDRP to validate the technology in Indian conditions and explore the possibility of leapfrogging," Shinde said.