BHUBANESWAR: A study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bhubaneswar has reported significant improvement in power distribution performance of Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) over the past five years, highlighting sharper network reliability, greater operational efficiency and stronger consumer service delivery.
The study, conducted by Prof Chandrashekhar Bhende, Dr Chandrasekhar Perumalla and Dr Abhineet Prakash of the department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-Bhubaneswar, evaluated the outcomes of sustained capital investment, network modernisation and digital interventions implemented by TPCODL, a joint venture of Tata Power and the state government.
A key finding of the study of the utility which serves around 1.36 crore consumers across nine districts was a nearly 50 per cent improvement in the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI). This indicates a marked reduction in outage duration and improved supply reliability. The study attributed this to enhanced fault detection, faster isolation and restoration processes, along with a decline in transformer tripping and failure rates.
Operational efficiency has also shown notable progress. Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses declined from about 30 per cent at the start of the reform period to 18.94 per cent in FY25. The gains were driven by improved billing and operational controls, network strengthening and automation.
Over the five-year period, capital investments exceeding `1,500 crore were made, including a 44 per cent increase in 33 kV feeders, a 42 per cent increase in 11 kV feeders and integration of 250 substations into a centralised control centre.
The study highlighted improved disaster preparedness, noting that focused efforts on cyclone-resilient infrastructure enabled power restoration within 24 to 48 hours in cyclone-affected areas. Consumer-centric service delivery emerged as a strong area of progress. The expansion of a 24×7 call centre, 20 customer care centres, digital payment platforms and online grievance redressal systems has improved transparency and service quality.
Decentralised fault response through 131 urban and 811 rural fuse call centres, digitally linked to central systems, has helped reduce response times, particularly in rural areas. Customer satisfaction reached 96 per cent in FY25, it stated.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Bhende said, “The study demonstrates how automation, digital systems and a safety-first work culture can drive sustainable public service outcomes.”